Program helps service members find voice

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A thought to ponder: what could possibly be worse than fatally falling from a 30-story building while contracting a nasty case of the flu on the way down? According to numerous studies, a typical American might answer, "presenting a speech in public." Why? Because public speaking has consistently ranked as the average American's top fear - more than the fear of illness, heights and even death.

"So in other words," comedian Jerry Seinfeld once quipped, "at a funeral, the average person would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy."

Knowing this, Master Sgt. Jesse Reed, NCO in charge of the electric shop with the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, saw an opportunity to give Team Dover a chance to find its voice by establishing a Toastmasters International club at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

"Initially, I simply wanted to attend the program. However, meetings were too inconvenient for a military schedule, so I created a group that would be more accessible to service members, civilians and retirees on base. Now, we are an official base program, and will be an officially-chartered Toastmasters group next month."

The mission of the program is to hone and build confidence in one's public speaking skills, said Reed. This is accomplished through a variety of means, including short speeches and random "table-topics", each of which are critiqued by the group, who count the "uhs," "ums," stutters and pauses. It is a collective effort, one at which Team Dover has excelled, said Sam Slabaugh, vice president of the Georgetown, Del., Toastmasters Club.

"I was called in to help get the first meeting off the ground; I was very impressed at how quick everyone took to it. I think this is because, like in the military, we have a manual for everything here," said Slabaugh.

The program features a curriculum and rank structure to give members a sense of progression. In addition to comprehensive training and guidance, it is the nature of the sessions themselves that lends to the growth of the club members.

"The program creates an environment in which one feels safe to fail, free of embarrassment, and supported by everyone," said Reed. "Public speaking is an invaluable skill for military members, especially as their career progresses, so we want to encourage as many people to feel comfortable here as possible."

Speaking comfortably is the reason Senior Airman Yanet Rouillard, a protocol specialist with the 436th Airlift Wing Protocol Office and sergeant at arms with the base Toastmasters club, became involved with the group.

"Speaking in front of crowds made my heart race; just getting through the first few sentences was difficult," said Rouillard. "I knew this program would help with my public speaking. I even became sergeant at arms to give me the extra motivation to consistently attend. I would recommend anyone to come out at least once and experience it."

The group averages approximately 20 members and meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the 3rd Airlift Squadron auditorium. It is always free to stop by; membership is $38 every six months with an additional $20 charge for the first payment. Call 677-4843 for more information.