Mid-grade civilian career development webcasts begin

News > Mid-grade civilian career development webcasts begin

Mid-grade civilian career development webcasts begin

Posted 8/31/2011

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by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

8/31/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Webcasts developed to help GS-7 through GS-11 civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers will be held at various dates and times through Oct. 6.

Originally slated for June, the GS-7 through GS-11 webcasts were rescheduled to help prevent login problems

"This is our largest civilian Airmen population," said Loretta Brown, the leadership development program office chief. "We want to make sure every interested member is able to sit in on the webcast and take advantage of this critical career information, but we were concerned that the host site would not accommodate such a large number of participants."

Sessions have been earmarked for eligible civilians based on command. Every session will include such topics as planning for the next job, how education affects careers, and more. The webcast series illustrates the Air Force's commitment to developing Airmen, Brown explained.

"The Air Force deliberately develops all Airmen to ensure they are able to fully contribute to the mission and achieve their own career goals," Brown said. "These webcasts will help civilian Airmen understand their growth options and enable them to plan their careers."

Civilian institutional development programs exist at every leadership level in a "continuum of learning," created in 2009, to ensure civilians have opportunities to achieve necessary proficiency levels, officials said. In support of that continuum, the webcasts will focus specifically on GS-7 through GS-11 employees.

Participants cand find specific audience webcast dates and times on the Air Force Portal by clicking on the "Life and Career" tab, followed by the "Career" tab and finally the "Civilian Employees" tab.

Employees are asked to log in only on their unit's date and time, and supervisors are encouraged to listen in so that they are able to support their employees' development plans. Subject matter experts will be online to provide real-time answers to questions during both webcasts.

"We also encourage people to gather in larger groups in a conference room or office area and log in on one computer to alleviate congestion and enable as many people as possible to participate in the webcast," Brown said.

To join the webcast, participants must go to https://connect.dco.dod.mil/dpi. Those people registered with Defense Connect Online will use their user names and passwords to log in, but participants can log in as guests as well. Login access will be available 60 minutes prior to each webcast. Logging in during the webcast increases the possibility of the webcast falling off line, so participants are asked to log in before the webcast begins. Those who log in as guests must provide their names and bases to be invited to the session.

Slides will be available by 8 a.m. the day of the webcast at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/12998/kw/DCO%20Webcast/r_id/100169. Click on the 2011 webcast/webinars tab under the civilian webcast and webinars section.

Some computers may not run the DCO program, which requires Adobe® Flash Player 8. To ensure they have access, participants should test their configuration at https://connect.dco.dod.mil/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm.

Comments

9/3/2011 10:56:18 AM ET
There are real Citizen Airmen. They are in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. A government employee who has never put on a uniform is not a citizen airman.

Real Citizen Airman, Nebraska

9/2/2011 8:07:39 AM ET
I do not really like the label of civilian Airman but it is the latest trend. I just wanted to point out that when I was part of a combat sustainment unit we had civilians who deployed right along with us. Granted it was not for as long but they had to wear a uniform, go through deployment training and drag bags. And while deployed, the enemy ordance did not differentiate civilian from military. Thanks to the civilians for their service but lets stick with AF civilian as a label.

Former Airman, GA

9/1/2011 5:20:28 PM ET
As a Vet I dont care what they call me. Just please stop screwing with civilians. Forced into NSPS, forced out of NSPS, 2 year pay freeze, 3 month or longer hiring freeze even though other Mil Branches, are hiring buddy-to-buddy hiring, threatened with furloughs, the list goes on. All of you retiring mil members who are thinking about a Federal Service career pay attention and decide if this is what you really want to deal with.

Can't wait for retirement, Somewhere but not here

9/1/2011 2:40:24 PM ET
As a former Airmen and current civilian, please stop calling civilians Airmen. It is not just the AF doing this, the other services are using Civilian Marine and Civilian Soldier title just more feel good crap.

smh, San Antonio TX

9/1/2011 9:22:03 AM ET
Civ Airmen? Is this the new PC term? Let's not go there. Civs are extremely valuable members of our Total Force team, but they ARE NOT Airmen.

Maj, HQ Staff

9/1/2011 9:05:08 AM ET
Don't get me wrong, the contributions of civilians in helping the Air Force mission succeed is essential. But why do we have to call them airmen? Do they have to involuntarily deploy? Do they have to PCS to a job or a location they don't desire? Do they have to wear the uniform? Until they've done these things and more they're not really airmen. So please stop referring to them as airmen.

Confused, Reality

9/1/2011 8:57:55 AM ET
STOP calling us civilian airmen.

JFR, Texas

8/31/2011 6:25:12 PM ET
What is a civilian airman? Does this mean NO civilians, only airmen?

Concerned, San Antonio

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