Diamond instructors share wisdom

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AFB, S.D. --  Two instructors from the United States Air Force First Sergeant Academy arrived here Jan. 8 to teach a week-long Air Force First Sergeant Seminar to an audience comprised of non-commissioned officers and company grade officers.

Master Sgt. Paul Brown, 28th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant, explained the class is mainly for Airmen pulling shirt duty on a temporary basis or for personnel interested in becoming first sergeants to get the flavor of wearing the diamond.

"The 'diamond-wearing' first sergeant course is four weeks," said Sergeant Brown. "This seminar teaches (additional or temporary duty first sergeants) how to survive.

The course includes everything from preventive discipline, counseling and Article 15s to military legalities.

Sergeant Brown, a 17-year Air Force veteran and diamond wearer for two years, said another base cancelled their seminar so Ellsworth quickly grabbed the two Air Force First Sergeant Academy instructors to teach here.

"Shirts are absolutely essential to a unit, but the reality is some of our units do not have a diamond-wearing shirt," said Chief Master Sgt. John Gillette, 28th Bomb Wing command chief master sergeant. "The next best thing we could ask for is a senior non-commissioned officer that brings those skill-sets to the table."

The additional duty shirt, just like their diamond-sleeved counterparts, is relied on to give their commander advice as to what type of action is appropriate when dealing with the sensitive nature of people issues, Sergeant Brown added.

The command chief echoed Sergeant Brown's thoughts on the importance of this seminar.

"This is a highly desirable course and there's keen competition to get one," explained Chief Gillette. "We were lucky we could put this together with very little notice. Most bases have several months (to plan) and we only had a couple of weeks."

The First Sergeant's council, especially Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Bolon, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant and Sergeant Brown, did a great job in getting the seminar here, Chief Gillette added.

Expanding that leadership tool box is not just limited to potential first sergeants or the temporary shirts.

It's a course company grade officers are offered exposure to as well.

"This allows young company grade officers to see what the senior enlisted corps is about," explained Sergeant Brown. "They can see just how well senior NCOs and first sergeants can handle unique enlisted issues.

"It's critical," he said, "Just the mere fact that person will deal with out of ordinary issues is important."

The instructors, imported from Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., squeeze all the "people-are-my-business" training in they can over a five-day period.

"The most important things we teach are gathering and relying on experts to help make decisions," said Senior Master Sgt. James Ford, director of operations for the First Sergeant Academy.

"This course is designed for the person who's a fill-in for the diamond-wearing shirt as well as the unit that doesn't get a first sergeant," he added.

While the course caters to temporary or additional duty shirts, the subject matter is the same any future diamond wearer will get at the First Sergeant Academy.

"We don't get as into the weeds in some subjects and we don't do a lot of role playing like we would at the academy," he added.

The instructors make sure they cover all the unique situations a shirt could find themselves dealing with.

"Let's talk about unauthorized absences," said Sergeant Ford as he prepared to instruct his students.

Sergeant Ford then played a video depicting a man telephoning his boss and in a raspy, wheezing voice, who tells his boss how sick and miserable he is.

As the video ended, the camera panned out to show the "ill employee" was actually on the golf course with some of his buddies.

"Now, that's an unauthorized absence," a chuckling Sergeant Ford said as he began his block of instruction dealing with the intricacies of someone not reporting for duty.

The various subjects the instructors cover are not just valuable tools for temporary or additional duty first sergeants. Tech. Sgt. Marc Schlecht, NCO in charge of the professional enhancement center here said he hopes to be a shirt himself, and the seminar opened his eyes to just how much an enlisted supervisor can do to make sure subordinates get the help they may need.

"I believe the most valuable part of the seminar was the in-depth look at all the available resources for helping me assist those who work for me," he said. "I also appreciate a greater understanding of where my role ends and other agencies begin."

There was a side benefit for non-diamond wearers attending the seminar as well.

"I gained a profound respect for the situations first sergeants are faced with on a daily basis," Sergeant Schlecht added.

The seminar included 52 students, 9 from other bases, from various career fields.