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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Master Sgt. John Simien, 375th Communications Group, is tacked on by Col. Gary Goldstone, 375th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. James Suttles, 375th AMW command chief, after being promoted under the Stripes for Exceptional Performers Program Jan. 21 during the Wing Annual Awards Dinner at the Scott Club. Sergeant Simien mastered 26 hours of advanced voice switching training earning Department of Defense mandated security, plus commercial certification. As the Voice Systems NCOIC, he led 20 technicians overseeing 13.5 million calls per month and achieving a 99 percent successful connection rate. He led and coordinated five maintenance teams to resolve 1,477 work-orders and 650 trouble calls guaranteeing communication to the Scott populace. He also completed 18 credit hours toward his Bachelors Degree in Information Technology leaving just one class left for his degree. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ellis)