Technical Sergeant Balla Traore

Technical Sergeant Balla M. Traore is the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Administration Management for the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 028, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona. Sergeant Traore is responsible for monitoring and updating all cadet pay actions to include scholarships, textbook funds and additional substance pay, which culminates to over $2.3 million annually. He also performs administrative and personnel cadet actions for over 300-plus cadets and seven cadre members.

Sergeant Traore joined the Air Force in December 2015. After graduation of Basic Military Training, he continued to complete the Administration Apprentice Course in 2016 at Kessler Air Force Base (AFB), Mississippi. His military career began as an Administration Technician with the 621st Air Mobility Operations Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey where he provided guidance to squadron staff ensuring publications and forms meet specified style, formal, legal statutory requirement. Also, overseeing the commander’s calendar, evaluation and awards program for 7 flights and 23 Air Force Specialty Codes. He then transitioned to the 423 Training Squadron where he became Assistant Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of the Commander Support Staff. His responsibilities included the effective management of various commander directed programs and 101 personnel. His extensive work and leadership as the NCOIC have led to recognition such as 2017 Berlin Airlift Humanitarian Mission of the Year Award, 2018 Wing Airmen of the Quarter, 2019 Air Force Association Multi-Domain Operations Award, 2019 Group Airmen of the Quarter, 2020 Air Force Command and Control Small Unit of the Year Award.

Sergeant Traore deployed October 2019, as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Unit Deployment Manager in the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Al Udied Air Base, Qatar. During his period, Sergeant Traore led his team through nine Squadron deployment rotations, briefing and equipping over 338 personnel across nine career fields to successful execute 2,135 combat sorties airlifting 72 million pounds of cargo and 37,766 passengers to austere airfields in support of Operations INHERENT RESOLVE, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and Resolute Support missions. 

(CURRENT AS OF DECEMBER 2023)