Master Sergeant Will M. McCrary is the Section Chief of Resources assigned to the United States Air Force Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the unit’s brass ensemble, Spirit of Freedom, where he performs as trumpet player and bugler, and is Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the unit’s 10-piece popular music ensemble performing as a singer, harmonicist, and trumpet soloist.
Sergeant McCrary entered the USAF in June of 2010 and was originally stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, Georgia. In 2013, Sergeant McCrary was reassigned to Ramstein Air Base in Germany where he served two consecutive overseas tours for a total of eight years. While stationed in Germany, Sergeant McCrary toured extensively throughout Europe and Africa performing as a representative of the United States Air Force for numerous heads of state, US and foreign ambassadors, and a combined audience count in the millions across 36 countries.
EDUCATION
2006 - Bachelor of Music, Trumpet Performance, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, Tennessee
2014 - Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Base, Germany
2017 - Associates Degree, Music, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2017 - Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Knowledge Online
2019 - Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Kapaun Air Base, Germany
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2010 – Aug 2010, Trainee, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. August 2010 - August 2013, Regional Bandsman, USAF Band of the Reserve, Robins AFB, Georgia
3. August 2013 – November 2021, Regional Bandsman, USAF Europe Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. November 2021 – present, Regional Bandsman, USAF Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal (Operation ALLIES REFUGE)
Air and Space Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
USAF Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Training Ribbon
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2-time Directorate Airman of the Quarter
1-time Directorate Volunteer of the Quarter
5-time Squadron Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter
2014 Distinguished Graduate and Academic Achievement Award recipient, Airman Leadership School Class 2014-7, Kapaun, Air Base, Germany
2019 Colonel Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award
2022 Unit Lance P. Sajin Leadership Award nominee
2022 Arthur S. Flemming Leadership Award, 88th Air Base Wing
2022 Band of Flight Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman Basic June 8, 2010
Airman First Class August 8, 2010
Senior Airman October 8, 2012
Staff Sergeant March 1, 2015
Technical Sergeant February 1, 2019
(Current as of February 2023)