Civilians earn their 'stripes'

  • Published
  • By Geoff Janes
  • Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  The noncommissioned officers academy here is one of two Air Force test sites allowing civilians to learn the ropes of leadership by working side-by-side with enlisted airmen.

Robins and Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., are part of a yearlong trial phase that could change the way professional military education is handled in the future, Chief Master Sgt. Orlando Justice said. He is the Robins NCOA commandant.

"Robins was selected for two reasons -- sustained record of excellence at the academy and an environment rich in civilians in leadership positions over enlisted personnel," he said. "One force, one fight. If that's the way it's going to be, then we need to give everyone the same tools to succeed -- that's the premise. But more specifically, it's just good common sense. If this training is essential for military leaders of enlisted personnel, then it only stands to reason that the civilians in leadership positions need the training, too."

Paula MacLeod, a contract specialist with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center contracting directorate, was chosen from a field of her peers here, and is scheduled to be the first civilian to graduate from the academy Dec. 11.

"I think this will be helpful," she said. "Last week we went over leadership. I had seen it before, but only because I'm working on my master's degree. Civilian employees don't get this type of training until they're at the GS-12 and 13 level, so the military is kind of ahead of us in that respect."

The six-week course covers everything from leadership and writing enlisted performance reports to physical conditioning, counseling and drill and ceremony.

Having civilians in the program is a positive move, said Tech. Sgt. Mark Tolston, a fellow student who works in the FA-22 program at Lockheed Martin.

"(MacLeod is) getting training on counseling," he said. "She's learning the best way to write (evaluations), and getting some insight into writing bullet statements. If she's going to be supervising enlisted personnel, it's good that she's learning this stuff."

The benefits go both ways, said Tech. Sgt. Paul Roby, with the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron.

"(MacLeod is) teaching us a whole lot that we wouldn't be getting if she weren't in the class as well," he said. "It's a real trade off of information."

Marisa Quiterio, who works in the nuclear weapons directorate at Kirtland, is reaping the same trade off of information as MacLeod, said Chief Master Sgt. Steve Sargeant, Kirtland NCOA commandant.

"The interaction between the students and civilian is fantastic," he said. "If it wasn't for the obvious absence of a uniform, her presence would be transparent.

"I have to admit it was a bit strange seeing Ms. Quiterio standing in formation during retreat," he said. "But I also concede she had one of the sharper salutes. I give her a lot of credit, her enthusiasm is unmatched and her determination to experience everything her military counterparts do is phenomenal. I am proud of her commitment and service."

Although the education phase is the same, there are some things that are different for the civilians attending the course, Justice said.

"Within the confines of this course there are some things civilians aren't required to do -- physical conditioning, command inspections and drill and ceremony," he said. "It's my hope and my expectation that they will voluntarily take on the full experience. She's doing it all.

"There were a few minor modifications to in-processing," Justice said. "The rules for using the fitness center are different for civilians. We also addressed the instructors. We had to adjust our teaching lingo so that it fits both the military and the civilians."

The program will allow civilians to reap the benefit of world-class leadership and management training as well as gain a tremendous insight on the enlisted corps, Sargeant said.

"I realize this is only the first of seven classes used for the test," Justice said. "But if this is any indication of what's to come, we have a new way of developing our civilian leadership in the future."

Civilians eligible for acceptance to the academy during the test program include wage supervisors grades 1 to 8, wage-grade employees in grades 9 to 12, wage leaders in grades 1 to 6, and general-service employees in grades 6 to 9. For more information, e-mail Linda Golden at Linda.golden@robins.af.mil.