Impact

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sean D. Smith
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Master Sgt. Nancy Auger, 5th Medical Group acting first sergeant, has won a lot of awards. The shelf behind her desk is lined with them -- so many that it borders on clutter. Auger's recent highlights include Air Force Global Strike Command Outstanding Airman of the Year, the Air Force Medical Service Senior NCO Organizational Management Award and she's been nominated for the Lance P. Sijan Award.

On top of being acting first sergeant, Auger runs the base College Level Examination Program preparation program. She clearly isn't the type to shy away from a heavy workload, but she isn't angling for more trophies. Auger's accolades are just an incidental byproduct of her guns-blazing approach to service and her determination to never miss an opportunity. Auger said her real endgame is mentorship.

"Awards are cool, but they aren't coming with me when I go," Auger said. "When there's an NCO that I used to supervise at some other base and they reach out to me out of the blue for advice, that's when I know I've done something right. Every opportunity that comes my way in the Air Force is a chance to help someone grow. Never close doors." 

Auger explained that servant leadership is contagious, recalling an instance of unexpected mentorship that left an impression on her earlier in her career.

"This senior master sergeant just came out of nowhere and spent his lunch hour mentoring me," Auger said. "We didn't know each other. He just wanted to help me."

She believes bringing a lot of positive energy to work and being there for people when they need it helps build a stronger, more connected Air Force.

"Knowing that someone's interested and that someone wants to see you do better, that makes you happier to come to work," Auger said. "You want to do better because you don't want to let down these people that are working so hard for you. I think that can happen at any level."

Excellence invites recognition, which can lead to awards and trophies, but Auger can take or leave them. She's working on a legacy of people, something that will have a tangible impact on the Air Force for years to come. Auger's accomplishments illustrate that whether the goal is trophies or the greater good, taking care of people is the key.

"If you make an Airman's day a little bit better, or you inspire them to try a little bit harder, that's how you create something that lasts," Auger said. "That's the kind of leader that I want to work for."