# DLA Aviation career broadener trading blue stripes for gold bars

/ Published Nov. 1, 2021
RICHMOND, Va, 
They say the third time is a charm. Well, in the case of Air Force Master Sgt. Christopher Farris, three times that was a charm. Farris was recently selected for conversion from enlisted to officer. It was his ninth try.  He currently serves as a material management enlisted career broadener within Defense Logistics Agency Aviation’s Supplier Operations Directorate’s Post Award Division.

“It’s like a door to a world has opened that has been locked for so long,” Farris said.

He was selected through the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program. SLECP allows designated Air and Space Force senior leaders to directly select exceptionally performing, highly talented enlisted airmen for commissioning as an officer. Receiving a commissioning via this route can be a daunting task for prior enlisted personnel. The Air Force only selected 14 this year.

Farris found out he was selected from the top of the Air Force chain of command. Yes, that’s right, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Charles Brown, Jr., himself, called Farris with a little trickery from DLA Aviation Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. David Sanford and Air Force Col. Greg Boschert, chief of the Air Force Customer Facing Division within DLA Aviation’s Customer Operations Directorate.

Farris said he was under the impression that he was meeting with Sanford and Boschert concerning physical fitness and testing for all airmen assigned to DLA Aviation in Richmond. But Farris said once he stepped into Sanford’s office, he knew that wasn’t the case. Boschert handed him the phone and he was talking  with General Brown via the Facetime app.

“It was a shock to have General Brown call me. It took me a solid five seconds to realize what was happening and then I became super anxious and excited as the emotions flooded through me. The honor can never fully be put into words,” he said.

Farris must attend the eight-week Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Once complete, he will be commissioned as a second lieutenant.

“It’s going to be very emotional. Coming from a family of Air Force, everyone enlisted, I’ll be the first officer. Having served as an enlisted member first, and then crossing over just makes it all that much sweeter,” Farris said. “I followed in my family’s footsteps, but thanks to everything I’ve been through, support from leadership, family and friends, I am now able to say I’m carving out a new path and I’m very excited about it.”

Once Farris puts on his officer bars, he will be known as a mustang for the rest of his Air Force career. This is a military slang term used in referring to a commissioned officer who began their career as an enlisted service member prior to commissioning as an officer, a limited duty officer or chief warrant officer.

“I believe to be successful; you have to be willing to open as many doors of opportunity as you can and hope that it takes you down the path toward your long-term goals. Having applied for commissioning nine times and finally being selected, I’m nervous, excited and so many other things. It’s still very surreal to me and I’m just grateful for this opportunity,” Farris said.

A huge BRAVO ZULU to you, Master Sgt. Farris. Job well done! You have made yourself, your family, your fellow airmen and DLA Aviation proud!