WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The 509th Bomb Wing hosted its second Senior Noncommissioned Officer Induction Course here, preparing newly promoted master sergeants for the responsibilities of the senior NCO tier.
The two-week course balanced classroom instruction, leadership exercises and heritage events with students’ daily mission requirements. Each select partnered with a senior NCO mentor, led physical training sessions, and facilitated lessons on topics including strategic planning, national strategies and talent management.
“The SNCO Induction Course was created to prepare our master sergeant selects with the tools to succeed as they enter the senior NCO tier,” said Master Sgt. Anthony Verde, SNCO Induction Course lead. “They not only had to learn the material but also lead their peers through it.”
Verde explained the half-day structure was designed to mirror the demands of senior NCO life.
“Students spend the morning in the course and the afternoon back in their units,” he said. “It forces them to balance competing requirements—just like they will as senior leaders.”
Master Sgt. Ian Gerritsen, course superintendent, highlighted how the students’ efforts went beyond the classroom.
“What I enjoyed most were the leadership panels,” Gerritsen said. “Each one brought a wealth of experience and insight that resonated with our selects. You could see their perspective shift as they realized what leadership at this tier really looks like.”
Outside of the classroom, students led physical training sessions three times a week, which culminated in a five-kilometer formation run across the installation. At key stops during the run, students briefed their peers on the significance of each location to a senior NCO’s role.
The class also organized a volunteer service project at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, where they met with residents and provided lunch. Heritage-focused events included a trip to the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, preceded by a talk from World War II veteran Norris Jernigan. Guest speakers throughout the course included senior leaders such as Chief Master Sgt. William Cupp, 18th Wing command chief at Kadena Air Base.
Students also hosted a formal dinner that transitioned into a flag retirement ceremony, where they honored and disposed of an unserviceable flag in a dignified manner.
“I was genuinely impressed by the students’ mindset and motivation,” Gerritsen said. “Every day, they showed up ready to learn, lead and challenge themselves. Their energy was contagious, and it was clear they were committed to becoming the best SNCOs they could be.”
For both leaders, the biggest takeaway was the development of a stronger senior NCO corps at Whiteman.
“Most students come in looking overwhelmed,” Verde said. “By week two, they’re leading professional lessons, planning events and running the show. Watching them overcome those challenges shows me the strength of our next generation of SNCOs.”
The course concluded with the induction ceremony, marking each select’s formal transition into the senior NCO corps.
“This course builds resilient leaders and strengthens the network that will carry our mission forward,” Verde said.
By completing the course, Whiteman’s newest senior NCOs are more prepared to lead the future of the Air Force and guide Airmen for years to come.