LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Seconds after Senior Airman Ashley Lemley, 1st Medical Group laboratory technician, saw her name on the promotion test-passing list, her phone rang. She sat dumbfounded, as coworkers excitedly congratulated her on her success.
Airman Lemley recalls triple-checking the list and staring at her computer screen in disbelief. Five months earlier, she sewed on senior airman and now, she is a staff sergeant-select with less than three years in the Air Force. She said she felt anxiety and anticipation flutter in her stomach at the prospect of becoming a leader.
"I realized, 'Wow, I've made it - now it's time to live up to it'," Airman Lemley firmly stated. "Even though I know the ins and outs of my job and work hard each day, I'll admit it still came as a surprise that I passed the promotion test."
Once shy and reserved, Airman Lemley has grown into an out-going individual and a confident Airman, said Master Sgt. Leyla Gillett, 1st MDG Pathology Flight noncommissioned officer, and Senior Airman Magen Harger, 1st MDG laboratory technician.
"She seemed scared of the job and a little intimidated by everything (at first)," Airman Harger said with a warm smile. "But, she's learned her job and became a dependable hard-worker."
"In the year and a half I've known her, she's evolved from an entry-level technician to a lead microbiology technician," Sergeant Gillett chimed in, as she adjusted her pristine uniform. "Airman Lemley is flexible - you can put her on any shift with little warning, and she will work without complaints. It's a work ethic her peers started to notice."
A team player, Airman Lemley will go out of her way to help others, even those who work in other parts of the hospital. With pride, Sergeant Gillett talked about e-mails NCOs wrote to her praising Airman Lemley, and how doctors and nurses told her how helpful Airman Lemley has been to them.
Airman Lemley attended Vance High School in North Carolina as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Public Affairs officer and served as head editor of the JROTC newsletter. Her love for writing and journalism grew with her experience as a JROTC PA officer. A few years later, she is still writing, producing a self-motivated prank newsletter "Lab Hijinks," which she distributes to her coworkers.
The newsletter shows her jokester side, and consists of lighthearted, off-the-wall stories about her coworkers. Airman Harger feels it is Airman Lemley's way of expressing her imagination and creativity while cheering everyone up.
"'Lab Hijinks' reflects her great sense of humor and writing talents," said Sergeant Gillett. "It brightens up everyone's workday, and we always look forward to the next issue."
Sergeant Gillett laughed as she remembered a story that had been written about her. She beamed as and said that any workday with Airman Lemley is a good day because she is always upbeat, personable and respectful. She credits Airman Lemley for improving morale in the lab.
Since passing the promotion test, Airman Lemley is taking her career more seriously, showing initiative and making an effort to set a good example for others, said Sergeant Gillett.
"Airman Lemley is self-motivated," Airman Harger said. "She will be a great leader because she won't forget how hard it was to be a junior-ranking enlistee."
In her free time, the staff sergeant-select enjoys writing, reading and playing her guitar. With a grin, she confessed she is also a "science geek," which is one reason why she enjoys her job; being a lab tech caters to her love for science, and satiates her inquisitiveness because there something new to learn each day.
"Life as a lab tech taught me teamwork and how to be comfortable around people," she explained. "Most importantly, I learned to maintain who I am no matter how much work may envelope my life."