FTAC introduces MacDills' newest Airmen to Air Force

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Latanya Reid
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. --  MacDills' First Term Airmen Center opened its doors to a group of 20 first-duty station Airmen Aug.13. 

The purpose of FTAC is to aid all Airmen who graduate from basic military training and technical school with their transition from a training environment to a self disciplined, mission oriented environment, said Staff Sgt. Stephani Colston, non-commissioned officer in charge of the First Term Airmen and Professional Development Center. 

All Airmen fresh out of technical training school are required to attend.
They must attend FTAC within 30 days of arriving at their first duty station, said Sergeant Colston. This is an Air Force wide recommendation.
Additionally, FTAC was created with not just the Airmen in mind but also their on the job training. Airmen are allowed to attend the course without interrupting on the job training, she said. 

"The greatest aspect to FTAC is that the speakers from around the base come to the Airmen as opposed to the Airmen going to them which streamlines, the process into a specific block of time," Sergeant Colston added.
According to Air Force regulations the course has to last for a specific amount of time to fulfill the required training. 

At MacDill, FTAC is scheduled for 15 days once per month with 12 classes annually, said Sergeant Colston .Each day consists of a series of different briefings from representatives of organizations around the base. 

The briefings are designed to provide information to the Airmen on the agencies and how they can be beneficial to them, she said. Briefings are given by the Airmen and Family Readiness Center, Housing Office, Education Office and many more. Discussion groups and panels are available for the Airmen to interact with the base senior leadership and ask questions as well. 

Along with the briefings, Airmen are assigned details that help with base beautification. They are taken on field trips to the thrift store and Airmen's attic as well as given the opportunity to enroll in volunteer projects within the community.
Airman 1st Class Jamie Calcasola, 6th Contracting Squadron, was tasked as the class leader with the responsibility of keeping track of the Airmen in his group. 

"The briefings were informational and the topics discussed were really beneficial," said Airman Jamie Calcasola. "I especially related with the financial briefing."
After leaving technical school, FTAC helps the Airmen adjust to the new base by easing their tension. 

"I have a much more positive outlook about my career in the Air Force after sitting in on some of the briefings, said Airman 1st Class Annie McClung, 6th Security Forces Squadron. "Also, I found the pride patrol details really interesting; it gave us the opportunity to help keep the base clean." 

A part from helping the new Airmen adjust to their first duty station FTAC also provides the foundation for them to be successful in their Air Force careers.
With FTAC training, not only are the Airmen acclimatized to MacDill but they are also able to walk away with a better understanding of the rules and regulations in which we live by, said Sergeant Colston.