Special duty assignments have great impact on Airmen's careers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  There's good news for any Airman with aspirations of fulfilling a special duty assignment. The Air Force is constantly looking for qualified professionals to fill a variety of unique assignments.

A special duty assignment is one that takes someone away from his or her career field for a specified period of time when he or she learns new skills and gains invaluable experience. Examples include recruiter, career assistance advisor, military training instructor and dormitory manager.

The NCO in charge of the First Term Airman Center here is one special duty position that offers NCOs an opportunity to have a direct impact on airmen as they start their career.
The FTAC program is a two-week course designed to transition newly assigned Airmen from a regimented training environment into hands-on employment of skills, knowledge and training at first duty stations.

Tech. Sgt. Candice B. Fitzmaurice has been Offutt's FTAC NCOIC for the past two years and said the impact she's had on nearly 1,000 airmen has been amazing.

"When you're passionate about spreading information and training, this position is an opportunity to do just that," she said. "Airmen get to their (first) base and many don't know what's going on. You get to help them understand their surroundings and what's expected of them.

"We help airmen transition to the base, we ensure all airmen meet all in-processing requirements including financial and medical processing, provide them with several mandatory briefings and stress core values," Sergeant Fitzmaurice said. "We take care of a lot while they're here."

The program, which began at Offutt in 1977, was established to allow newly assigned airmen to accomplish ancillary training, as well as provide a pool of airmen for base cleanup. Since then, thousands of airmen have completed the course.

Tech. Sgt. Matilda A. Campbell, 55th Medical Group, was recently selected to become Offutt's next FTAC NCOIC early next year said she's really looking forward to the job.
"I'm so excited, I can't even explain it, I've wanted to do this (job) since I was a staff sergeant," she said.

Sergeant Campbell believes that, as the FTAC NCOIC, she'll have an excellent opportunity to positively affect airmen's careers.

"I'm passionate about starting airmen off right, setting them up for success and sharing all my experiences with them," she said.

"I know that (doing so) will make a difference and they'll feel more comfortable about being in the military, know how to take care of themselves and they'll be better airmen after coming here, (which) is good for the Air Force," she added.

Another special duty assignment that can have a profound impact on airmen is the job of professional military education instructor. At Offutt these experts prepare senior airmen to become first-line supervisors and lead junior NCOs and airmen through professional enhancement courses.

Master Sgt. Evan J. Downey, is the commandant of the James M. McCoy Airman Leadership School here and said PME instructors play an important role in the development of today's airmen.

"One of the most important things we do in the PME world is teach people how to lead, and in the Air Force the most important thing we have is leadership, because if you don't have people to guide us to mission success the mission fails," Sergeant Downey said.
As the ALS commandant, Sergeant Downey's mission is ensuring his instructor team properly administers the curriculum consisting of four key areas; military leader, expeditionary Airman, supervisor of airmen and supervisory communication.

Each block of instruction deals with a different aspect of what it takes to be an NCO and a leader in today's Air Force, Sergeant Downey said.

Some of the topics covered throughout the five-week course include time and stress management, the enlisted force structure, integrated operations, group dynamics and how to write an enlisted performance report.

Lessons are primarily taught through instructor led group discussion, something Sergeant Downey said, enhances the learning process.

Each day at ALS starts at 7:15 a.m. and instructors arrive early to make final preparations for the lessons they'll present that day. After hours of instruction, drill and physical training however, the PME instructors' job isn't complete and many stay late grading papers and preparing for the next day's lessons.

This dedication is what it takes to be a PME instructor, Sergeant Downey said, "because every day is a different conversation, about a different subject with a different set of students, no day is the same, once class starts its full speed ahead."

The most rewarding part about being a PME instructor, Sergeant Downey said, is seeing when the students realize that they will have a tremendous impact on their Airmen's lives as supervisors.

"Taking someone who walked in the door as a senior airman who is used to being led and opening their eyes to what their capable of and (seeing them as) they realize they can be good supervisors, watching that light bulb come on is probably the biggest reward that we have," Sergeant Downey said.

Sergeant Downey encourages any Airman with an interest to become a PME instructor to apply for positions as soon as they become available.

Sergeant Fitzmaurice also highly encourages Airmen to apply for special duty assignments.

"Step out of your comfort zone," she said, "when we advertise for the FTAC NCOIC position, a lot of people are interested but they don't apply."

"Apply, find out about it, try it, if you feel it's something you might be interested in don't hesitate to go for it."

To learn more about special duty assignments and requirements, visit the Air Force Personnel Center's assignment management section website.

(Editor's Note: This is the first story in a three part series on special duty assignments.)