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FTAC leads Airmen to available resources

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs
The transitions made between basic training and the operational Air Force can often be considered difficult for Airmen new to military living. It takes time to modify a lifestyle with a rigid daily schedule to a more relaxed, but still professional, routine. 

Questions arise as to what programs are available, what facilities can be used and how first-term Airmen can become more involved on the base. Opportunely, these first-term Airmen are required to attend a one-week seminar at the First Term Airmen Center that answers most of their questions. 

During the seminar, Airmen are provided the opportunity to become aware of the resources that are available to them and meet new people who are also at the start of their Air Force career. This is done to provide as smooth of a transition as possible into the operational Air Force. 

"It's the last phase of transition from the training side of the Air Force to the operational Air Force," said Master Sgt. Daniel Dodd, a career assistance advisor. "It covers mandatory in-processing briefings they have to accomplish anyway in a controlled environment." 

The one-week seminar enables Airmen to obtain the information necessary from representatives of various programs and services available to them on the base. This allows Airmen to get their in-processing done in a timely manner so they can progress into their duty sections to put their technical training to use. 

"I think it's a good way for Airmen to get to know the surrounding area and to get advice from the NCOs and supervisors," said Airman 1st Class Christopher Hill of the 92nd Medical Support Squadron and a participant in the Feb. 19-23 FTAC class. 

Advantages to the class are that Airmen are able to become acquainted with what is going on around the base, how the base operates and what is available to them, said Tech. Sgt. Troy Hayden, the FTAC team leader. 

"Honestly, I don't think there is a disadvantage to FTAC. If there was, it was squelched when they changed it from two weeks to one week," he said. 

The driving force behind the change made in July, was the rising number of deployments and the need to get Airmen to their duty sections, said Sergeant Dodd. Another reason for the change was to eliminate the redundancy of presenting information in FTAC that Airmen would receive in Right Start, a program that is mandatory to newcomers on every base. 

The two-week course consisted not only of presentations from the various programs on base, but Airmen were also required to write research papers and do details on the base. 

"These were all great things," said Sergeant Hayden, "but not for FTAC."
As a two-week course, it was just too long. At the end of the two weeks, the Airmen were tired and less-motivated, said Sergeant Dodd. At the end of the one-week course, however, Airmen are more energized and eager to apply their knowledge. 

Along with the necessity of obtaining the information, it is also important for the Airmen to know they are a part of Team Fairchild, Sergeant Dodd said. 

"It is imperative that supervisors are directly involved to set Airmen up for success," he said. It is important that supervisors accompany their Airmen to sign up for FTAC, just as it is necessary to be present when their Airmen graduate from the course. 

That is what FTAC is all about: setting Airmen up for success, welcoming them into the Air Force and onto the base, providing a setting in which they can network and make new acquaintances, and exposing them to the resources that are available.