FTAC transitions new Airmen to the mission

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Torey Griffith
  • 509th Base Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Henry David Thoreau said, "things do not change; we change."  The transition from the civilian lifestyle to the military lifestyle is one of the most drastic transformations a person could make in his or her life.  One program, however, aims to transition Airmen to their first duty assignment efficiently, while setting the standards and expectations for acheiving success in the military.

The First Term Airman Center program, founded in 1977 by Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Estrem, is a two-week class designed to transition new Airmen from a technical school environment to the 'functional' Air Force.

"These airmen have been through intense training at basic and tech school, and now it is time for them to understand what their Air Force career has to offer," said Tech Sgt. Mark Whalen, FTAC team leader. "They receive more than 36 briefings at FTAC to show them all the benefits they can get from the military and from Whiteman Air Force Base."

Ancillary training and briefings, ranging from financial planning to sexual assault awareness training, arm new Airmen with the information needed to build a successful career.

"When the Airmen return to their units, they should not have to leave to accomplish any ancillary training," said Tech. Sgt. Felicia Haecker, NCO in charge of FTAC. "The Airmen and their supervisors are able to concentrate on their Career Development Course and on-the-job training."

Sergeant Haecker sees the Airmen as potential future leaders of the Air Force, rather than nuisances or objects of ridicule.

"My favorite part of FTAC is getting to know the Airman, who they are and why they're here," she said. "These are an amazing group of individuals, who I feel don't get enough credit often times from those of us who have been in for a while."

"I love looking in their eyes and seeing that fire for the Air Force burning brightly," Sergeant Haecker said. "As an NCO, I feel that it's my job to keep that fire burning and keep them motivated."

But it's not all puppy dogs and lollipops. Sergeants Whalen and Haecker demand punctuality, proper customs and courtesies, and above all, professionalism.

"We have to be tough, but at the same time we have to be human and think back to how we felt as Airmen," Sergeant Haecker said. "I felt insignificant as a new Airman, and had the 'I am only an Airman' attitude. A great NCO helped me change that. I see that quite often here and have made it my personal mission to try and change that. Every person is important and we as NCOs need to make the Airman feel that way."