News>Air Force debuts pilot enlisted developmental team
Photos
1st Lt. Stephen Lawson explains the new enlisted development tool to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and Chief Master Sgt. Ray Guest, the Air Force's nuclear weapons career field manager, March 31, 2011, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Lawson is the Air Force Personnel Center's force development chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Grever)
1st Lt. Stephen Lawson explains the new enlisted development tool to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and Chief Master Sgt. Ray Guest, the Air Force's nuclear weapons career field manager, March 31, 2011, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Lawson is the Air Force Personnel Center's force development chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Grever)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy discusses the enlisted development tool with the nuclear weapons career field developmental team panel as Chief Master Sgt. Ray Guest, the Air Force's nuclear weapons career field manager, looks on March 31, 2011, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Grever)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy discusses enlisted force development with the nuclear weapons career field enlisted developmental team March 31, 2011, at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Grever)
by Tech. Sgt. Steve Grever
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
4/1/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force's top enlisted leader addressed the service's first pilot enlisted development team March 31 for senior noncommissioned officers in the nuclear weapons career field.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy met with Air Force Personnel Center assignments representatives and EDT panel members from the 2W2 career field to share his vision for the future of enlisted force development and the pilot EDT program.
"The purpose of deliberate development is to grow our senior NCOs and grow the next generation of senior enlisted leaders to meet the highly technical and very complex leadership challenges the Department of Defense and the United States Air Force face in the future," Roy said.
The pilot EDT initiative originated with the Air Force's Enlisted Force Development Panel and will enable the enlisted force to move forward in deliberately developing senior enlisted leaders.
"We want to prepare our Airmen to reach their highest potential," Roy said. "This can only happen if we capitalize on each Airman's experience, education and training."
During his visit, Roy said vectoring senior NCOs from the nuclear weapons career field is critical to helping the Air Force accomplish its top priority of strengthening the nuclear enterprise.
"We felt it was appropriate to start with the 2W2s to handle the unique challenges associated with the nuclear enterprise," he said.
According to Chief Master Sgt. Terry West, the Air Force's enlisted force development chief, the pilot EDT program evaluates targeted ranks within select Air Force specialty codes and will vector senior NCOs who have the right training, education and experience to fill critical positions within their career fields.
Eight career fields were selected to participate in the pilot EDTs: nuclear weapons (2W2), space systems operations (1C6), explosive ordnance disposal (3E8), dental assistant (4Y0), public affairs (3N0), security forces (3P0), command post (1C3), and missile and space electronic maintenance (2M0).
As Roy completed his remarks to the 2W2 EDT panel, he reiterated his overarching goal for EDTs and how the Air Force develops the enlisted force for the future.
"The emphasis is on deliberate development as a whole," he said. "We need to ensure that our enlisted Airmen are developed deliberately for future DOD and Air Force needs."
Comments
7/7/2011 1:21:46 AM ET Mr. Cooperman, No where in the story does it even suggest that the Lt is trying to teach SNCOs to become leaders. The Lt is merely giving the CMSgt of the Air Force a brief on a computer-based program. Officers use developmental teams to smartly vector the right person for the right job. In other words experience education and potential growth are taken into account when selecting officers for their next assignment. This has not been the case for the enlisted corps. Prior to this pilot program, Time On Sation was usually the determining factor for enlisted assignments. The Enlisted Developmental Team Program will take a closer look at SMSgts and MSgts in determining what they've done, what they're doing, and what they should do next. It's just a smarter way to use personnel.
CMSgt John Zincone, Southwest Asia
5/3/2011 12:56:14 PM ET Mr. Cooperman, I find it ironic that you would mention putting the cart before the horse as clearly, you did not read the article before posting your comment. Perhaps a SNCO should bring you up to speed on the importance of processing information before making an irrational judgment based on a photograph. You now have me wondering... what's your take on The Cat in the Hat?
Harry W, Oklahoma
4/8/2011 3:12:08 PM ET The Lt works for AFPC and is providing and explanation of how the DT tool works to Chief Roy....the Lt is not schooling Chief Roy on how to manage the Enlisted Force. Chief Roy and many other advocates have fought long and hard for the opportunity to manage the enlisted force in a more deliberate way. I am thankful he is willing to step out there and work to make positive change with his tenure as the CMSgt of the AF.
Cassandra, Virginia
4/6/2011 3:08:42 AM ET Mike Cooperman-where are you getting that some lt is training SNCOS from the picture? Re-read the article this is a vectoring program. That lt in the picture was showing the SNCO how to use a program on a computer. I think the lt can handle it.
Sean, Germany
4/5/2011 4:54:44 PM ET Can someone please explain this better to where it makes more sense
Thomas, Marysville CA
4/4/2011 12:07:35 PM ET Deliberate Development is going to be critical to capturing maximum investment from our people. The future's so bright I gotta wear shades.
TSgt Martens, Barksdale AFB
4/3/2011 10:48:44 PM ET More hoops - more pencil whipping - more eye candy. Another way to ensure only those willing to give up actual hands on work experience to pad their resume get promoted. Hooah.
Adrasteia, USA
4/2/2011 9:45:41 PM ET This is a huge undertaking that Chief Roy has been working on since day 1 as CMSAF. I applaud the vision of Chief Roy as he works toward making our enlisted force development a realization. The officers have had this for years and our enlisted men and women will benefit from this initiative...especially as our senior enlisted leaders continue to develop in a Joint environment.
Retired Chief B, Valdosta GA
4/2/2011 1:49:57 AM ET So let me get this straight, a 1Lt. who has less than a quarter of the time in the USAF than a SNCO is going to teach this MSgt or SMsgt about becoming a leader in the military? Talk about putting the cart before the horse. It is normally the SNCO who has to bring the Lt up to speed.
