Reserve course teaches leaders how to raise professional Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jaimi L. Upthegrove
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Death by PowerPoint, standing up in the back of the class to stay awake, boring lectures...this is what Airmen might experience during military educational courses. That was not the case for the recent class attending the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Development Course here Dec. 2-13. 

For this class, laughter could be heard through the halls. Students were excited to show up to class.

The two-week NCOLDC comes here twice a year, normally in April and December.

"This course, unlike the Airman Leadership School and NCO Academy, focuses on the dynamics of supervision and leadership in the workplace, such as conflict management, critical thinking and teamwork," said Chief Master Sgt. Katdo Robinson, Acting Command Chief for the 482nd Fighter Wing. "The course demonstrates how to effectively utilize those skills as an NCO in the Air Force Reserve."

The course is taught by both military and civilian instructors. A civilian instructor teaches general management and leadership for the first three days of each week. Then a military facilitator teaches hands-on activities, Enlisted Performance Reports and Air Force Reserve specific issues for the last 2 days.

For Tech. Sgt. Sean G. Nickerson, a crew chief for the 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and class leader for the Dec. 2013 NCOLDC course, the class was about more than just routine information provided by the facilitators.

"My favorite part of the course has been learning other people's enlisted heritages," said Nickerson. "The most important part has been learning about each other, making new friends, and establishing leadership skills to implement within our organization."

This course is a networking opportunity in addition to being informative. There is no established guidance on the proper way to supervise because every situation is different. This course teaches leaders to utilize the different leadership and followership techniques, in addition to recognizing different personality types and how best to handle them, said Tech. Sgt. Michelle M. Brown, 482nd Fighter Wing education training manager.

"There isn't a rule book for how to raise a professional Airman, just like there isn't a book for how to raise children," said Brown. "This course makes you think outside of the box and gives you a safe place to work together with the different personality types to accomplish specific goals."

This course can only be taken once as a Staff Sgt. or Tech. Sgt. Brown said if she could take the training again she would in a heartbeat.

Wing education and training announces course dates when they become available. Interested NCO's can talk to their unit training manager about getting one of the 25 coveted seats in the class.

"The course fills up fast and we always have to put people on the waiting list," said Brown.

If all the training and networking wasn't enough, graduates also receive two college credits in management.

The NCOLDC class is a voluntary opportunity that addresses the different challenges faced by reservist NCO's. The course also helps further college educational goals and gives each student a unique "bullet" to assist with promotions and awards.

The next class is scheduled for April 7-18, 2014.

For more information on NCOLDC or to find out information on the next class, contact Tech. Sgt. Brown at (786) 415-7304.