AFLCMC Tech. Sgt. selected for commissioning program

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mikaley Kline, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – An Air Force Life Cycle Management Center non-commissioned officer was recently selected as a recipient of the FY24 Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program – Active-Duty Scholarship.

Tech. Sgt. Abigail Bartleson, currently a scientific technical application technician with the Technical Applications depot, will become a contracting officer once she commissions.

SLECP-A is for candidates who do not possess a baccalaureate degree but have completed at least 24 semester hours or equivalent by the end of the SLECP selection window with plans for completing a bachelor’s degree within three years from an accredited institution. This program provides an opportunity for enlisted members to complete their degree while in an active-duty status.

“My end goal since first enlisting has always been to commission. As anyone working full-time and going to school at the same time knows, it can be challenging juggling Active-Duty commitments and assignment deadlines,” said Bartleson. “When I found out there was a commissioning program that would allow me to focus 100% on school, without having to separate or otherwise lose my Active-Duty benefits, I knew that this program (SLECP-A) was the way to go for me.”

Bartleson credits her mentors and current leadership for encouraging her to apply for the program.

“I have been fortunate to have several mentors, including my current leadership, who knew of my dreams of commissioning and encouraged me to apply,” she said. “They supported me at every single step of the application process as there was a lot of coordination involved and they were on top of it all.”

Before being accepted into the commissioning program, Bartleson was approved for a White House communication agency assignment in Washington D.C. starting in 2024.

“While it was a bit sad to turn down this once-in-a-lifetime assignment, obtaining this commissioning opportunity has opened a new and exciting future for me,” she added. “Commissioning has always been my long-term plan, so in a way, this did not change my overall goals but rather got me closer to them.”

Bartleson is looking forward to starting a while new chapter in her Air Force career.

“This is such a rush of emotions and I’m happy that all my hard work has paid off,” she said. “I’m grateful to so many people who have helped me throughout my Air Force enlistment. Above all, I feel truly honored that AFMC saw potential in me and have entrusted me with the responsibilities that come with the officer ranks.”

Chief Master Sgt. Robert Jones, AFLCMC Det. 6 Senior Enlisted Leader, Cryptologic and Cyber Systems Division, mentioned that Bartleson is a caring, humble, and hard-working individual.

“Abigail has a heart to genuinely help other Airmen,” Jones said. “She’s achieved numerous awards, but these accolades are merely the external representation of Bartleson’s internal, inherent care for Airmen and her passion to make things better.”

Jones highlighted that Bartleson’s job can be physically and mentally demanding at times, but she is no stranger to getting her hands dirty, working side-by-side with the junior Airmen.

“She is a self-starter and demonstrates incredible initiative, she remains coachable and open minded,” Jones added. “She actively listens first and then she responds accordingly both verbally and in action. The officer corps will be fortunate to have her.”