FTAC gives new Airmen important life, career guidance

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La., March 13, 2013 — A single office helps first-term Airmen transition when they arrive at their first base, getting acclimated to the new surroundings and work centers can prove stressful for the new Airmen and their families.

First-term Airmen coming to a new base directly from technical school immediately face certain hardships. Getting acclimated to the base, new job and new home can add stress to a new Airman and his family.

The First-Term Airman Center, known as FTAC, is designed to introduce FTA to the resources available to them in order to maintain a new career and a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle.

"FTAC gives new Airmen the training needed such as financial stability, suicide prevention, drug awareness, and continuing education," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Leggitt, FTAC team lead here "It helps first-term Airmen transition into the military lifestyle and gets them the training they need. A scenario may come up later where a briefing they got here could help them."

In addition to a financial stability briefing, Airmen receive an in-depth introduction to the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

While FTAC itself is an introductory course to a first enlistment, there are things Leggitt recommends Airmen do to prepare for the course.

"The biggest things to prepare for are the computer-based training modules on force protection, information protection and human relations," Leggitt said. "Those absolutely need to be completed before Airmen arrive at FTAC."

"Monday's uniform is also full service dress with all decorations and supervisors must escort Airmen to class so we can get emergency information from them in case something was to happen," he said.

The FTAC team not only gives Airmen a head start on their careers, they offer valuable advice.

"Don't drink and drive or get into fights," said Cody LeMaire, FTAC team instructor. "The Air Force has a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol-related incidents such as underage drinking or drunken driving."

Leggitt says FTAC is a relaxing environment and Airmen aren't required to do "grunt work", but he stresses the importance of physical training and has revamped the FTAC schedule to include two days of physical training during the week-long course.

FTAC courses are given every other five-day duty week and held in the Education Center here.

For more information on FTAC contact Staff Sgt. Leggitt at 456-5626.