Offutt hosts additional duty first sergeant symposium

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jason L. Haag
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  First sergeants from here hosted 120 NCOs and senior NCOs this week for the Air Force Additional Duty First Sergeant Seminar at the Dougherty Conference Center.

The seminar gives technical, master and senior master sergeants basic tools and skill sets to be successful as not only additional duty first sergeants, but as operational leaders as well.

The seminar, conducted over five days, includes briefings on many first sergeant issues, such as family care planning, Air Force fitness program, administrative reprimands, the Article 15 process and counseling. There are also guest presentations from the Airman and Family Readiness Center, legal, Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Air Force Aid Society.

"I've been working as the additional-duty first sergeant for my unit for about eight months," said Tech. Sgt Cory Wilde, a member of the 377th Security Forces Squadron at Kirtland AFB, N.M. "They've been trying to get me into a class and when this one became available, I jumped at the opportunity to come up here and put some training to what I've already been doing."

According to one of the two instructors, who traveled here from the Air Force First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., there are two goals for the one-week seminar.

"The first goal is to train senior NCOs to the traits we need first sergeants to have, to look at all the commander's programs from a people orientation perspective, rather than an operational side," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Bellerose, AFFSA course director.

"The second part is we're taking operational leaders and giving them that perspective of looking at how everything affects their people. In the stovepipe world, when you go through maintenance, security forces, medical, you're looking at your job and how your job affects the mission. But a lot of the time, we don't concentrate on how doing the mission affects our people," Sergeant Bellerose said.

"All our lessons revolve around how all the programs are affecting morale and welfare of the Airmen. Hopefully this course takes a well-rounded operational leader and gives them that other side of the coin, which makes them more affective in the end," he said.

With deployments, leaves and even day-to-day tasks, additional duty first sergeants are important in ensuring Airmen always have the support they need.

"An additional duty first sergeant's main duties are to assist the first sergeant when he or she gets overwhelmed or when he or she deploys forward. The individuals here (at the seminar) will be able to step in for the first sergeant in a moment's notice and the Airmen are never negatively affected by it," Sergeant Bellerose said.

For Sergeant Wilde, attending the seminar is a way to expand on some of the lessons he has already been taught.

"I've been immersed in the job for about eight months and I've had a very good mentor as a first sergeant, guiding me and training me from the beginning. This is a great reinforcing tool. It opens my eyes to the multi facets of the job," he said.

Another benefit of the course, is recruiting the next generation of diamond wearers.

"Hopefully these courses will be a great recruitment tool. It can help these individuals see how motivated we (first sergeants) are about Airmen and hopefully get them motivated to put the diamond on and help us out," Sergeant Bellerose said.

One Offutt attendee believes this one-week look into the first sergeant community will help her decide if the special duty is for her.

"I've always been interested in becoming a first sergeant, so this is a great way to get the inside scoop, if you will," said Master Sgt. Teresa Whitmyer, 55th Security Forces Squadron unit training manager.

The seminar is offered at different Air Force bases around the world on average of 22 times a year, with approximately 1,200 to 1,500 people attending annually, according to Sergeant Bellerose. The course is offered to Guard and Reserve people as well.

After successful completion of the week of lectures, students are award two Community College of the Air Force credits.

According to one Offutt first sergeant, the seminar has been on the calendar for a year and the planning to pull it off has been a team effort.

"It takes a lot of work and preplanning. We started avidly planning about four months ago. It starts off as a slow process and then about two months prior is when you're really ramping things up," said Master Sgt. Robert Brinkman, 20th Intelligence Squadron first sergeant and Offutt First Sergeant's Council president.

"We had a social last night and we had a positive turn out for that. In talking with the students, they seem to be enjoying it and getting the information they need," Sergeant Brinkman added.

Now that the students and instructors are in place, Sergeant Brinkman said the Offutt first sergeants are making sure the students have a successful and productive week.

"We're here to help facilitate and make sure everything goes smoothly. We also are making sure the instructors have the support necessary for a successful seminar."

The seminar wraps up May 21 after a course examination and certificate presentation.