Joseph Belles:
CLASS OF 1971
Essex County Vocational High SchoolClass of 1971
Bloomfield, NJ
Sussex Avenue Elementary SchoolClass of 1967
Newark, NJ
Joseph's Story
Life
Biography
United States Air Force
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT JOSEPH E. BELLES JR.
Chief Master Sergeant Joseph E. Belles Jr. last military assignment was at Shaw AFB, SC arriving in August 1999. While at Shaw he has served in the 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, as armament flight chief, the 79th Fighter Squadron as maintenance superintendent, and the 20th Operations Group as group superintendent. Chief Belles retired 1 September 2002 completing 30 years of service. He and Lucy now reside in Gautier, Mississippi. POC (228) 497-0256
He was born May 18, 1954, in Scottsboro, Ala., and graduated from Essex County Vocational and Technical High School, Bloomfield, N.J., in June 1971. He enlisted in the Air Force on Aug. 28, 1972, and has served in the aircraft armament, first sergeant and command chief career fields.
EDUCATION:
1979 Associate in Applied Science Degree, Aircraft Armament System Technology, Community College of the Air Force
1980 Tactical Air Command Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
1982 Tactical Air Command Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
1986 First Sergeant Academy, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
1988 Associate in Applied Science Degree, Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force
1988 United States Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Gunter Air Force Station, Ala.
1989 Bachelor of Science Degree in General Studies, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Ga.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. August 1972-October 1972, student, Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1972-February 1973, student, Weapon System Course, Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado
3. February 1973-May 1974, weapons mechanic, 58th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
4. July 1974-November 1977, weapon release team member, 380th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y.
5. December ...Expand for more
1977-December 1978, weapons load crew chief, 5072nd Air Base Squadron, Galena Airport, Alaska
6. January 1979-June 1982, squadron lead crew chief, 336/337th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
7. June 1982-June 1983, chief, loading standardization section, 57th Fighter Intercept Squadron, Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland
8. July 1983-June 1985, loading standardization crew chief, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
9. July 1985-April 1986, weapons production supervisor, 6151st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Suwon Air Base, Korea
10. May 1986-August 1989, first sergeant, 347th Equipment Maintenance and Component Repair Squadrons, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
11. August 1989-March 1991, first sergeant, 61st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Howard Air Force Base, Panama
12. March 1991-July 1993, first sergeant, 347th Aircraft Generation and Equipment Maintenance Squadrons, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
13. July 1993-April 1996, senior enlisted advisor, 347th Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
14. May 1996-March 1997, senior enlisted advisor, 23rd Wing, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
15. April 1997-May 1997, senior enlisted advisor, 43rd Airlift Wing, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
16. June 1997-June 1998, senior enlisted advisor, 51 Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
17. July 1998-July 1999, command chief. Seventh Air Force, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
18. August 1999-August 2002, Maintenance Superintendent 20th Operations Group, Shaw AFB, S.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Meritorious Service Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two silver and one bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one silver and four bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Register for Free to start a reunion event!
Photos
Register for Free to view all photos!