FTAC prepares airmen for career

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Allison M. Boehm
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Months of schooling and technical training lead up to an airman's first assignment, but before they can put that training to use at their first base, airmen must attend a nine-day long course--First Term Airman Center.

Barksdale FTAC provides a structured program to transition airmen from a training environment to the mission-oriented Air Force.

"FTAC is a one-stop shop for first-term airmen who have just in processed the base," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Hoover, FTAC team leader. "We are able to educate them on everything from how to navigate the virtual military personnel flight to how to manage their finances. This training and professional development is a high priority for new airmen."

Team leaders schedule approximately 20 briefings, which are governed by Air Force Instruction, for the airmen to learn how specific career fields and support units play into their career. Topics ranging from base legal to the base chapel are briefed over the two-week span, totaling 28 hours of learned material for the airmen.

"These briefings are very important to new airman," said Sandy Griffin, Barksdale education office. "It gives them a view into the Air Force life. I am able to show them about the benefits and entitlements the education office offers, it's a great thing to start off at a new base with that information."

According to Staff Sgt. Jason Potoka, FTAC team leader, team leaders give the airmen all the right tools to succeed in their career and current students agree.

"Being enrolled in the FTAC course is very beneficial," said Airman 1st Class Jacob Rash, 2nd Operations Support Squadron. "I was able to meet fellow new airmen, learn new leadership skills and important information about Barksdale--some of these briefings really showed me my potential to progress and how much I can achieve in my career."