LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
More than 200 Air Force master sergeant selects attended the first Joint Base San Antonio Senior NCO Professional Development Seminar June 21-25.
The 204 NCOs gathered for two days at Lackland, and a day each at Randolph Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston. The group also attended the June 25 basic military training graduation parade, and held a retreat ceremony to recognize the 14th anniversary of 19 Airmen killed in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing.
The selects were provided an opportunity to view their new supervisory positions from a senior leadership perspective.
"The whole week sets the standard of what is expected as a master sergeant," said Tech. Sgt. James McKinney, Air Education and Training Command executive support NCOIC at Randolph. "We will be responsible for Airmen and junior NCOs, to make sure they develop professionally."
The sergeants were briefed on issues such as personnel, leadership, ethics, enlisted force structure, retraining, education benefits and how to deal with situations involving junior Airmen. Additionally, the group had a chance to quiz senior leadership on various situations they may encounter.
Master Sgt. Timothy Godfrey, Lackland career assistance advisor, 802nd Force Support Squadron, said the joint base seminar helped the one-base perspective.
"It was good for them to see the different aspects of Randolph, Fort Sam and Lackland, and to be on all three installations," he said. "It was very beneficial; it put joint base into view for them."
Sergeant Godfrey said the inclusion of Army senior NCO presenters at Fort Sam Houston offered additional information and perspectives.
"It was real eye opening (for the selects), another view for them," Sergeant Godfrey said. "In the end, it's all about (Airmen and Soldiers) completing the mission."
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Anderson, 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, did immediate follow-up research on NCO duties and responsibilities after hearing from Army leadership at Fort Sam Houston.
"Since we are a joint base operation, I hope we can have other E-7s from sister services in these seminars," he said.
Sergeant Anderson and Tech. Sgt. Court Sartain, 668th Alteration/Installation Squadron, concurred with Sergeant McKinney that the seminar was positive reinforcement.
"It validated what I was doing right," said Sergeant Anderson. "It made me feel good to know I am doing certain things right with these young Airmen."
While agreeing with his peers, Sergeant Sartain addressed another benefit from the seminar.
"We were able to network across different career fields," Sergeant Sartain said. "We might see each other at NCO Academies and social events, but we really don't get the chance to know each other like we can here.
"We heard how they handle situations. I think that helps fine tune our skills, and enhances our mentoring and disciplining perspectives," he added.
And the three sergeants were also unified in the seminar's effect.
"It revalidates what the Air Force is constantly trying to teach us," Sergeant Saratin said. "It re-blued us. It was a great opportunity to reinforce and relearn our core values, standards of discipline and why we're here. It was definitely a week well spent."