GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- An NCO interested in helping shape the minds of future Air Force leaders, coordinated a two-day Airmen Professional Development Course at the Consolidated Learning Center Aug. 10 and 11.
Tech. Sgt. Steven M. Shingledecker, 17th Training Group commander’s executive, with the assistance of Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth H. Guise Jr., 17th Force Support Squadron career assistance advisor, gathered NCOs and Senior NCOs to teach a variety of topics.
“In my opinion, there is a gap in the professional development of our Airmen between [the First Term Airmen Course] and Airmen Leadership School,” said Shingledecker. “This course is designed to try and fill that gap. We are trying to accomplish that by bringing in seasoned people with expertise in certain areas.”
FTAC and ALS are both professional development courses. Airmen go to FTAC when they arrive at their first duty location and learn about different organizations on base and how to be an Airman. ALS is for senior airmen and staff sergeants to help them prepare for upcoming roles as supervisors and leaders.
The first seasoned individual Shingledecker brought in was to help fill the educational gap was Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass, 17th Training Wing Command Chief, to participate in a question and answer session. One of the questions the Airmen asked her was what her key to success is.
“Work hard,” responded Bass. “My parents taught me to work hard at everything and it goes a long way.”
During the two-day course, the participants learned about communication, the enlisted force structure, bullet writing and more, before wrapping up with a chief’s panel featuring chief master sergeants from around the base, to answer any remaining questions.
“If you’re not exceeding the expectations of your direct supervisor...then you’ve already failed,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jesus Longoria Jr., 312th Training Squadron chief enlisted manager, in response to a question about the new evaluation system. “You’ve got to exceed the needs of your direct boss, then everything else should fall in line.”
Shingledecker plans to hold the course a twice a year, to help bridge the gap between FTAC and ALS.