Bilateral training teaches enlisted leaders to care for Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Harry Kibbe
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Instructors from the Air Force First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., prepared 99 enlisted leaders from around Japan to better care for their Airmen here May 11-14.

"The First Sergeant's job is all about taking care of people."

That was the message that the Active-Duty Course Director, Senior Master Sgt. David Scott, shared with 74 U.S. and 15 Japanese Air Self Defense Force Non-Commissioned and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers during the Additional Duty First Sergeant Seminar.

"We're here to share our experiences and help get these leaders ready to handle whatever comes their way," said Sergeant Scott. "We are the standard bearers, but First Sergeants aren't just unit disciplinarians. Ultimately, our job is people."

This sentiment was echoed by seminar instructor Master Sgt. Melanie Noel.

"Being a First Sergeant is one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs in the Air Force," said Sergeant Noel. "We want to prepare people to do this job to their best ability by making sure they know their priority is taking care of those in need."

The five day seminar covered topics including financial responsibilities, administrative actions and suicide prevention, a topic that JASDF Chief Master Sgt. Randy Kawasaki was especially interested in.

"This system is a good model for what we would like to do," said Chief Kawasaki. "Suicide is a growing issue in our culture, so we would like to learn from this seminar and work together to take care of our young Airmen."

Guest speakers from the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Area Defense Council and the Air Force Aid Society spoke to the future additional duty First Sergeants about some of the services available to Airmen in need.

Yokota's Military Equal Opportunity director, Senior Master Sgt. Sabrina Barfield, said she attended the seminar because she has always had a desire to learn the tools to care for our enlisted force.

"Our involvement in the lives of our Airmen will allow us to combat issues at the lowest level," said Sergeant Barfield. "We are here to learn how to ensure that our force is mission ready at all times."

First Sergeant Academy instructors conduct 13 ADFS seminars every year. Each time their goal is to impart the skills used to maintain a capable force while looking for future Senior Non-Commissioned Officers to take up the reigns of the First Sergeant.

"At the end of the day, you can rest easy knowing you upheld the duties and responsibilities of a First Sergeant," said Sergeant Noel. "The softest pillow you can have is the knowledge that you did everything you were supposed to do to take care of your Airmen."