Diamonds provide tools for additional duty first sgts

  • Published
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Twenty-seven NCOs and senior NCOs attended the Additional Duty First Sergeant Symposium at the Consolidated Learning Center here May 27 and 28 to learn basic responsibilities needed to support diamond-wearers.

There are currently five full-time first sergeants responsible for nearly 1,200 permanent party and more than 2,000 students at any given time, and support from fellow senior NCOs is needed to maintain morale and assist commanders.

Tech. Sgt. John M. Hebdon, 17th Contracting Squadron Base Infrastructure Flight NCO in charge, attended the class expecting to gain more insight of first sergeant responsibilities as well as strengthen his toolbox of skills to support his Airmen.

"The course helped me in understanding, through example, how reactions to situations can impact your Airmen so deeply," Hebdon said. "Regardless of the outcome, Airmen will appreciate your efforts as long as [your help] is sincere."

Due to the high ops tempo of the 316th Training Squadron, there is one full-time additional duty first sergeant to support Senior Master Sgt. Hamp Lee III, 316th Training Squadron first sergeant.

While the major role of first sergeants is to care for Airmen, Hebdon attended the class to support those who fulfill the role of first sergeant whether they wear the diamond or not.

"Although [first sergeants] are known for their resiliency, they too need decompression time or just someone there to pick up the slack when the work piles on," the contracting NCO said.

Before becoming a diamond-wearer, Lee attended the symposium at Ramstein Air Base in 2007 to assist his first sergeant at the time as well.

"I didn't have a lot of supervisory experience, and the symposium helped me gain more experience and confidence as a supervisor and SNCO," he said.

Lee and fellow first sergeants took turns providing the foundation required to support the unit as a first sergeant through the process of administrative actions, educating the different types of leave and helping a unit cope with death. As a result, the attendees were able to hear firsthand experiences and different approaches used.

This was the first condensed version of the existing four-day course typically taught at Air Force bases. Prior to the change, no more than a dozen NCOs and SNCOs were able to attend 32 hours of training, and the first sergeants condensed the material.

"No matter how long the symposium may be, it will not prepare additional duty first sergeants for every scenario they may face," Lee said. "This is a foundational course for taking care of Airmen and the unit... How each first sergeant and command team approaches a situation may be different, but at the end of the day, it's about taking care of Airmen and rebuilding their resiliency so they can support the mission."

In his opinion, Lee said the most important information given at the symposium was hearing how first sergeants addressed different situations.

"When I attended the additional duty first sergeant symposium, I wanted to know what to do when faced with a situation and what my first steps should be, the senior master sergeant said. "And in turn, we (first sergeants) wanted to share our thoughts and experiences to help our additional duty first sergeants. We want them to feel a little more comfortable as they take the phone."

Not knowing what to expect when the phone of a first sergeant rings may give an additional duty first sergeant anxiety.

"I can only imagine what emotions will run through my mind when the blackberry goes off," Hebdon said.

However, he said he looks forward to the new role with the ability to help build future leaders.

It's not a "cookie cutter" job according to the 316th TRS first sergeant, and it can be "emotionally draining with someone crying in the office at one moment to supporting the commander as an Article 15 is given, then responding to a family emergency in the unit, but if you want a great adventure and develop professionally as a senior leader, being a first sergeant is the way to go. It's the most challenging, yet rewarding duty of my Air Force career."