Professional Development Community of Practice opens Published Nov. 3, 2006 By ALTUS AFB, Okla. -- The Altus AFB Civilian Personnel Professional Development Community of Practice opened Aug. 9 with a kick-off presentation in the Freedom Community Center to 300 civilian employees with Col. Carlton D. Everhart II, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander, as the key speaker. "A few Air Force bases are adopting civilian employee computer-based orientation programs using computer-based training," said Johnette Howard, 97th Mission Support Group deputy commander. "At Altus we are taking a different twist and responding to our customer's survey results which indicated they prefer continual professional development courses through classroom and seminar sessions." Training is not a one-time process, she added, but an on-going process. "We are looking at professional development with all civilians having an opportunity to participate based on the needs of their 'Journey'," Ms. Howard said. "Our training will be tailored to help contribute to completing the Air Force and Altus AFB's mission in the most economic and efficient manner for the taxpayer. Under the National Security Personnel System's performance-based program the traditional cookie-cutter approach to a person's career, where everyone is promoted at the same pace and progresses down a pre-defined career path, will change. Promotions will be based on results-driven perforce and measured against established Smart Objectives." NSPS is scheduled to start at Altus AFB on Jan. 21, 2007 for non-bargaining employees. "Training will help employees prepare for this change, hone skills, learn new techniques and allow employees to work with supervisors to identify needs and time for self-development," Ms. Howard said. Of the first six courses that were offered, five were filled up within 24 hours and additional training offerings are being evaluated to meet the demand. Registration information is available at: https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/ASPs/CoP/OpenCoP.asp?Filter=OO-OT-AE-16 .