'Dirtboy' earns diamond Published April 21, 2010 By Angela Cutrer 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- What are the human characteristics of a first sergeant? "In my previous civil engineer career field, we would use the phrase 'the heart of a Dirtboy,'" said Master Sgt. James Messer, 81st Training Wing staff agency first sergeant, a December First Sergeant Academy graduate. "Well, you could say the same about being a first sergeant. You have to have the heart to be a first sergeant." Sergeant Messer, who's been at Keesler for two years, said after 12 years in civil engineering and five in education and training, he chose "the diamond path" because he felt "it was time to take both of the wide ranges of experience in the career fields and 'give back' to the people. People ask me why I became a first sergeant, and the answer is simple: Airmen with a big 'A.'. I tell my people all the time 'I am here to support you; this job is not about me.' I get up every day motivated by the people in my unit to do the best job I can for them. I really can't think of a better, more gratifying job." A Michigan native, Sergeant Messer, 35, has three daughters, ages 17, 14 and 7. Being a first sergeant is labor intensive and social-time stealing, so why does he do it? "It's not difficult to become a first sergeant," Sergeant Messer explained. "You just have to ask yourself one thing: Do I care about the people around me? If the answer is yes, you'll love it." As for his training, "The First Sergeant Academy includes an outstanding cadre of instructors who are truly passionate," Sergeant Messer said. "I can't say enough about the professionalism, passion and heart of the instructors. The instructors do an awesome job of giving you the mechanics of being an effective first sergeant." Sergeant Messer notes that "most of the curriculum involves scenarios, fitness, development and just taking care of people. My take away from the academy was this: Take care of your Airmen, which includes your officers and civilians. "There is so much a first sergeant touches on a daily basis, with prevention being the key ingredient for success. If I can get in front of a problem versus just reacting, I'm there."