A&FRC, lieutenants help ROTC grads make 'Smooth Move' into active duty

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  More than 100 graduating seniors from Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC detachments across New England visited Hanscom this month to attend the Airman and Family Readiness Center's annual Smooth Move/Life in the Military seminar.

The seminar, held April 9 and 24, was designed to assist graduating seniors anticipating their first PCS to a new assignment, said Terri O'Keefe, A&FRC Community Readiness consultant and team lead. "First impressions are critical. We want to help ensure the newly commissioned officers make a good start by knowing where to go and what information and resources are available to them," she said.

The seminar included briefings on the PCS process and individual agency roles from experts from the Finance Office, Joint Personal Property Shipping Office-New England, the Claims Office, Military Personnel Flight, the Housing Office, Tricare and the A&FRC.
"The object of the seminar is to ease the stress of their first move by bringing in the experts involved in PCS moves to speak and answer questions," Mrs. O' Keefe said. "The students learn about finding housing, shipping their belongings, filing claims and submitting travel vouchers. We also have printed information on hand and disks loaded with the slides, links and handouts."

A panel session with Hanscom lieutenants was incorporated into the recent seminars.

"Several Hanscom Company Grade Officers volunteered to speak with the cadets about their first PCS, share advice and answer questions. They represented several career fields and duty locations. Their humorous anecdotes and practical advice were a marvelous addition to the program."

In addition to moving and job training advice, many of the lieutenants offered insights into the differences between ROTC and active duty.

"I know how different it is to transition from college life to the Air Force and I remember how many questions I had," said 2nd Lt. Karl Artis, 66th Mission Support Squadron Manpower and Organizations Flight Operations officer. "These are important matters to them, and who better to ask than people who have recently gone through the same experiences have the memories still fresh in their minds?"

The panel was a popular addition with the student participants.

"It was very helpful to hear from the lieutenants about their personal experiences and about information our formal military training doesn't cover," said Air Force Cadet Jason Frey.

"I really appreciated the lieutenant panel, because they're people who were recently in our shoes," said Air Force Cadet Kathryn Hall. "It was helpful to hear from them about what we should do and things not to do. It's settling and makes it all seem more feasible -- we don't have this mountain we have to climb by ourselves."

The lieutenants who participated in the panel appreciated the opportunity to offer guidance to the incoming officers.

"I was fortunate to know great lieutenants when I first showed up, and I appreciated their help so this was a chance to pay it forward," said 1st Lt. Scott Carpenter, Air Force Research Laboratory IR Battlefield Signatures program manager. "It felt great to see the next wave of eager young officers and I hope it helped give them a broader picture of what's ahead."

"Many of them were very sharp and it was rewarding to be part of the beginning of their military experience," said 1st Lt. Rhett Gasaway, 650th Electronic Systems Squadron Enhanced Regional Situational Awareness deputy program manager. "It was also beneficial for me to see the enthusiasm and dedication of the graduating cadets. For the lieutenants on the panel, it was an opportunity to help others who are just a couple years behind us and that opportunity was rewarding in itself."