Airmanship 300

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody Dowell
  • Altus Air Force Base Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma --  The First Term Airmen Course was an Air Force wide program that allowed new Airmen a week to in-process at a new base. In 2016 it was evaluated and is now revitalized as Airmanship 300, which focuses on developing next-generation leaders.

Airmanship 300 continues from lessons learned in Airmanship 100 and 200 courses taught during Airmen’s week and technical training. The first two courses are taught in order to transition Airmen into the basic and technical training environment. Airmanship 300 furthers the development of Airmen using the Air Force core values in the operational field.

“We are trying to tie the core values into everything we do in the new course,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Edward Abell, 97th Air Mobility Wing career assistance advisor. “Those aren’t just statements that we constantly recite; we are trying to teach Airmen to integrate the core values in their everyday life because we are Airmen all the time.”

Airmanship 300 includes modules from courses that have been attended by senior Air Force leaders. Some of the subjects include trust, loyalty, commitment, in-group behavioral psychology and team-building exercises. The training will not end with first term airmen and are projected to continue with Airmanship 400 and 500. These courses will be taught to NCO’s and Senior NCO’s as professional enhancement courses.

The first Airmanship 300 course at Altus Air Force Base was taught in July and has received positive feedback from the new Airmen participating in the class.

“It was a helpful and friendly environment,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jayra Martinez, 97th Force Support Squadron force management technician. “It was a great transition from the tech school environment to the operational Air Force. Talking about situations that we will face in the operational field on and off-duty truly made me feel prepared for my new environment.”

The new course has mandatory topics that are covered Air Force wide, but there is still room for each base to discuss topics they think are valuable to first term airmen.

“No matter where an Airman works, we make sure they know how they tie into getting aircraft into the air,” said Abell. “It is valuable to know the mission and history of the base so we know where we went in order to know where we are going.”

The new course for first term airmen takes the fundamentals of the original course and offers it in a way that the Airmen can use to improve themselves.

“People often ask, ‘How do you teach professional development when they are brand new and there is nothing really to develop?’” said Abell. “I would have to disagree with that statement because it’s never too early to start sharpening young minds.”

Improving the way the Air Force uses the time of first term airmen ultimately assists with the process of accomplishing the mission. In the end, having this course allows the opportunity to further develop the next generation of Air Force leaders.