A native of Nu’uuli, Senior Master Sergeant Jacinta Migo, is the first American Samoan woman to be promoted in the U.S. Air Force to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.
On February 1st, the 505th Test and Training group hosted her promotion ceremony while her family and colleagues watched live and via streaming video as she joined an elite group of senior enlisted that is only attained by one percent of the enlisted force.
Migo, the third of 11 children of Faatamalii and Maiava Leo, is the first born and raised American Samoan woman to be promoted to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, which made this ceremony even more unique. She may be the first American Samoan ever to achieve this rank.
She describes life in her hometown as simple and strict, mostly because “with six girls in a row, my parents had to be [strict].”
Migo, who was valedictorian of Faasao Marist High school her senior year, joined the U.S. Air Force in 1998 because she met the service’s high test score requirements on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. She volunteered for Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, to be her first duty station because she had family members living in the area.
During the ceremony, Col. Francisco Gallei, 505th Test and Training Group commander, noted that Migo was a highly accomplished Airman who has received many accolades over her career. “Not only has she been recognized with two major command-level awards, one in Pacific Command and the other in North American Aerospace Defense Command, as their Command and Control Battle Management Operator of the Year,” Gallei announced, “she was also the Air Force-level award winner last year.”
Gallei then looked to the audience and told her three children – Shelton, Terrence, and Alayah –their mother often says they are her greatest accomplishment. Migo emphasized this after her children placed the ceremonial Chief Master Sergeant insignia on her uniform. “My success comes from the Man above, my family, my friends, coworkers, and mentors.”
COVID restrictions prevented many of her family from traveling to witness the ceremony in person, especially in American Samoa.
“I just changed my last name back to my family name of Migo,” she said, noting that she had planned to change it before she relocated for her next assignment. “I did so before this ceremony because the time was right; this honors my family, my village, and American Samoa.”
Migo shared these words of encouragement to other American Samoans: “E iloa le Samoa i lona tu, tautala, ma lona savali,” – translated: “You know a Samoan by the way he/she stands, speaks, and walks.” Migo summarized this with, “be proud of your culture and where you come from. Never give up on what you deem important; when you fall or hit a road-block, get back up and try again or re-evaluate and then press on.”
Migo is currently serving as the superintendent of the 505th Test and Training Group. She is the principal advisor to the group commander on all enlisted matters and informs the commander on issues affecting the health, morale, welfare, training, and the proper utilization of over 500 personnel assigned to four squadrons, three detachments, and six operating locations.
Source: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
