02/23/2014 - Middletown, Pa. -- --
For Master Sgt. Darin Wildasin, his job as lead accounting technician for the 193rd Special Operations Comptroller Flight is a job of numbers and the number two is now a dominant numeral in his life.
Sergeant Wildasin was recently presented the Financial Management Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year award for the year 2012. This is the second time he's received this title; the first was in 2010.
"It was kind of a shock winning the first time and especially the second time," said Sergeant Wildasin. "I have a lot of pride in what I do and this award is validation to the hard work I've put in."
Sergeant Wildasin has worked hard since the beginning of his career when he enlisted into the 193rd in 2001. He received the small arms expert marksmanship ribbon at the conclusion of his basic military training and earned the honor of distinguished graduate in 2002 when he graduated from Financial Management and Comptroller Apprentice training. Also while in training, Sergeant Wildasin received flight student of the month and the squadron student of the month - setting the precedent out of the gate.
In December 2004 Sergeant Wildasin was hired as an Active Guard Reserve to perform duties as an accounting technician at the wing and in July 2008 he was hired as the lead accounting technician, where he is now the forerunner of a team of three full-time accounting technicians.
"He has worked for me for eight or nine years and he was an open canvas; he took it all in," said Chief Master Sgt. Michelle Kerstetter, 193rd SOCPTF superintendent. "I literally don't have to watch over him. He just knows what to do - he's smart, picks up new projects, can manage personnel, and meets deadlines. He's one of my best workers...he's a very good troop."
Sergeant Wildasin being a stellar worker has even been noticed at the active duty level.
"The year that he won the award for he was hand-picked by Chief Rider, who was the AFSOC Chief at Hurlburt Field, to go to Japan for two months," said Chief Kerstetter. "I got rave reviews on him being there and as a Guardsman that's something you have to be proud of because that's an active duty situation and for him to do so well and fit in with the active duty is exceptional."
Sergeant Wildasin said it comes down to demonstrating and sharing his knowledge outside the 193rd SOCPTF office. He taught the financial management course at the Air National Guard level for a period of two years. Sergeant Wildasin also assisted AFSOC headquarters financial management draft policies and procedure documents that were then published by the Air Force accounting and financial office.
As for Sergeant Wildasin's future career goals, there are no options off the table.
"I've been here for 13 years. It just seems like a crazy ride that I've already been on and feel like I'm in the middle of my career and I certainly haven't even peaked yet," he said. "To make chief master sergeant would be awesome, but to convert over to the officer side and to progress to be the future comptroller is still an aspiration I hold."