Enlisted Foundations Courses at Ellsworth Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Yendi Borjas
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education initiated a Foundations Course that reached Air Force wide operational capability July 19, 2024, however, development advisors were authorized to commence classes once they were trained. The first course offered here was May 2024, and entailed four days of a standardized curriculum and one day of deterrence and nuclear weapon education.

The overall goal of the Foundations Course is to fill the time between Professional Military Education levels with professional development opportunities through education.

When the foundation courses began in Oct. 2023, the objectives were to replace base-level professional enhancement seminars and become prerequisite courses for enlisted professional military education starting in late 2024.

Prior to the establishment of Foundations Courses, base-level professional enhancement seminars were offered to Airmen and varied in length and course material depending on the installation.

“The Foundations Courses are standardized content across all Department of the Air Force installations to ensure all Airmen at each level are learning the same content,” said Master Sgt. Sydney Cox, 28th Bomb Wing wing development advisor. “This reinforces learning objectives that are current and relevant to maintaining a competitive advantage.”

Airmen not only develop leadership skills, but also gain the opportunity to elevate their professional development through networking with various career fields.

“I feel the Foundations Course gave me a stronger non-commissioned officer network and gave me resources I wasn’t aware of prior,” stated Tech. Sgt. Ashley Black, 28th Bomb Wing command chief executive assistant.

Because of the nature of these courses, Airmen are provided different perspectives through engagement with their peers. For the next two-to-three years, Ellsworth AFB is expected to host multiple Foundations Courses for each tier of enlisted Airmen.

“Working with the development advisor, squadron leadership will review the list of eligible Airmen for each level and task the most eligible available for each course,” said Cox. “The development advisor will then confirm eligibility and enroll the Airmen in the course.”

The Foundations Courses offered aim to develop Airmen throughout their career by facilitating environments that engage career fields across the force. Airmen are provided the opportunity to understand their personal strengths and weaknesses in order to develop the most efficient and effective leaders.