Hanscom command chief sets the tone

  • Published
  • By Mark Herlihy
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Command Chief Master Sgt. Craig A. Poling held an enlisted all-call at the base theater June 24 where a broad range of topics were discussed.

Professional development was one of the chief's topics he discussed. Poling noted although there were a significant number of requests for more professional development opportunities, the attendance was not reflective of that desire. During the most recent Top 3 professional development seminar, only five people were in attendance.

"What you need to do is bring Airmen with you if you are a senior NCO in the Top 3," said Poling. "If you are a Top 3 member and you feel you don't need professional development from another Top 3 member, you are wrong."

Poling stressed how important participation in these seminars is, not only for junior enlisted Airmen, but through the senior NCO ranks and Company Grade Officer ranks as well.

Another opportunity for Airmen to take advantage of professional development would be the Leaders Encouraging Airman Development program, which is an opportunity to get sharp Airmen either into the Air Force Academy or the academy prep school. Of the 170 slots open annually, only about 45 are taken each year.

"I want to encourage you, if you know a sharp Airman or you are a sharp Airman, this program is out there," said Poling. "It is a great opportunity for a commission in the Air Force."

In the upcoming enlisted performance report changes that will start filtering out around May of next year, more focus will be placed on performance. Under the current system, approximately 23 percent of the points come from performance and under the new system, performance will account for nearly 50 percent.

Performance cannot be stressed enough, said Poling.

Other changes coming are the removal of time-in-grade and time-in-service points for promotion consideration, and only the last three EPRs will be used for scoring purposes.

Other changes likely under the new system will be fewer lines required and there will be no number system assigned to the new ratings. All EPR's will be due at the same time for each rank.

In the current plans for the master sergeant promotion boards, only about 60 percent of those that are eligible will actually meet the board, and there are no plans to make Community College of the Air Force a requirement or to have technical sergeants stratified.

With regards to the Airmen Comprehensive Assessment, Poling said, "I can tell you, it is very important to know where you stand at all times. For you young Airmen, if you are not getting feedback ask for it." I believe this new feedback form and the rules that come with it will be the game changer that we all have asked for in our system.

Chief also touched on the developmental special duties, a program designed to vector the Air Force's top Airmen, and mentioned the March cycle saw 5,816 vectored Airmen across the entire Air Force for 960 vacant positions, not including local hire positions.

"Just because you are being vectored does not mean that you will be getting a position," said Poling.

He also spoke about the role supervisors need to play.

Supervisors may be thinking they don't want to lose their top Airmen because they need them in their shop, but that is the wrong way to think, according to Poling.

"They are the ones who will be teaching our future leaders, our first sergeants, our career assistance advisors, important positions for all of us. We need them," he said.

Suicide of Total Force members was another topic that Poling chose as a focus during the call. Suicides have been on the rise in the Air Force and are significantly up from the same time last year.

"I need you all to be wingmen, there is a very serious issue going on right now," said Poling. "As good wingmen, we all need to look out for each other, be aware and alert for signs of depression and suicide as this is a general responsibility as written in 'The Little Brown Book'."

To open up the all-call, Col. Lester A. Weilacher, 66th Air Base Group commander took the opportunity to say thank you to the enlisted force for all the hard work during his time as the installation commander.

In wrapping up his remarks Weilacher said, do not doubt that what you do for the Air Force is important, "The Air Force has never been about platforms, it has always been about people, it is about the person to your left and the person to your right."