First Term Airman's Course

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  My first day at the First Term Airman's Course began like any normal work day for me. I "snoozed" my alarm clock about six times before I could work up the fortitude to haul myself out of bed. I stumbled to my sink and clumsily scraped a razor across my face for a while until it was time to get dressed. One of the few brain cells functioning at 6:30 a.m. reminded me that I needed to wear blues, so I got dressed, did a lint-check and was out the door.

On the way to FTAC, I remember fighting back a voice in my head which kept repeating the same phrase: "death by slideshow". I had just finished technical school, where I fought through the endless slides, heavy eyelids and mundane briefings with a steady flow of caffeine. I feared that FTAC was going to be more of the same.

The classroom was full of about 20 Airmen who were passing the time until our first briefing. I gathered from the conversations that most of these Airmen were maintainers since the dominant conversation in the room was a debate about which cargo plane was better. This was a bit nerve-racking for me because the only planes I know anything about are the ones with flight attendants offering peanuts and apple juice twice a flight, if you are lucky.

A few of the Airmen noticed me hanging around the group and asked what my job is. I told them I was a writer and work for the base newspaper. They looked at me like I had told them I was a professional lip-stick model. I remember one Airman asking me if I still have to do physical training tests.

At that point, my hopes for FTAC were not high. I was in classroom full of Airmen whose day-to-day job involves life-or-death decisions, while I sit in an office under constant threat of getting writer's cramp. I wasn't exactly stoked about the full list of briefings I was about to endure either. Then, our team leaders arrived.

Tech Sgt. Jessica Smith, 436th Force Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of FTAC, and Senior Airman Edmund Kazuschyk, 436th Force Support Squadron FTAC team leader, made FTAC work for me. Within five minutes of meeting them, our whole class was laughing and joking with each other like old friends.
Sergeant Smith is definitely a go-getter when it came to daily activities. Her personal motto can sum her up better than my descriptions can.

It goes, "If you don't plan to do your best, why even try?"

She and Airman Kazuschyk, or Airman Kaz as he was better known at FTAC, definitely lived up to Sergeant Smith's motto. They did their best to keep us busy at all times.

Throughout the course, they had us volunteering at the Delaware Veterans' Home, playing kickball, pt testing (yes, Public Affairs specialists actually do pt), keeping the class in order, and calling the room to stand-by for nearly everyone who went in or out.
The veterans' home visit was especially memorable for me. We played a game of bingo with the residents, and I played a friendly game of pool with one of the gentlemen (yes, Public Affairs specialists play sports). I felt like volunteering completed a circle of service to our country in a way, because they had served before us, now we are giving back to them. I wasn't the only one who enjoyed the trip.

"It was an awesome day," said Sergeant Smith. "Any time we volunteer for community service is rewarding."

Most of the classes were rewarding as well. My favorite was Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, which taught about efficient ways to do work. Perhaps most importantly, we got to make model airplanes to demonstrate how inefficiently we work.

Interestingly, when we learned how to work efficiently, we created more planes than our "budget" called for. We ended up losing more money working effectively than when we didn't produce enough. So the next time you get dinged for underachieving, tell them AFSO 21 taught you that failing was more profitable than overachieving and you'll be good. (Joking of course.)

All in all, I left FTAC feeling much more prepared and informed than I arrived. I can safely say I'm an FTAC convert. Now, I must end this commentary, my hands are cramping up a bit.