Seminar helps mentor, train first sergeants

  • Published
  • By Debi Smith
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Like every great idea, it started with a question. A senior NCO preparing for his next assignment takes the natural step and goes to his first sergeant, who takes the natural step and delivers answers.

Master Sgt. Kirk Benda, an interim scheduling element chief for the 982nd Training Group, was getting excited about his upcoming assignment to Nellis AFB, Nev. In 21 years in the military, he said he's almost seen it all, but realized that living in the bright glare and fast life of Las Vegas, there may be the extra challenges of underage drinking and gambling that he should be prepared to help his younger team members face.

With the wingman spirit that speaks volumes of today's Air Force, Sergeant Benda sought out Master Sgt. Regan Crowder, the 982nd TRG's first sergeant, to ask for help.

Having recently returned from a deployment himself, Sergeant Crowder said he realized it had been over two years since the last time first sergeants mentored other first sergeants and those interested in becoming additional duty first sergeants.

Taking the lead to fill the gap, he organized a five-day seminar that was held Sept. 20-24 to spotlight the personal, professional and interagency resources needed by additional duty first sergeants.

"Our focus is to teach NCOs, senior NCOs and master sergeant-selects how to take on first sergeant responsibilities," Sergeant Crowder said. "Every senior NCO should have human relations capabilities and, along with their own life lessons, become invaluable to the success of a unit."

First sergeant-, command chief- and commander-level panels provided insight in to responsibilities, personal values, preventative discipline, recruitment and volunteerism.

Assignments, separations, finance, housing, medical, domestic disputes and special needs family issues were covered by representatives from family advocacy, the 82nd Medical Group, the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office and first sergeants.

Reviewing command-level principles for evaluations, decorations, recognition and punishment provided another layer of confidence for attendees.

The mixture of Judge Advocate General, Office of Special Investigation and Inspector General oversight and the personal experiences of other first sergeants was exactly what Sergeant Benda said he wanted.

"I was scared the first time trying to help someone. I didn't want to be responsible for giving them the wrong information," he said. "This gives me a deeper level of information across the board on what duties an additional duty first sergeant performs. It was a real benefit to get everyone else's experiences as we went over the scenarios."

Team Sheppard grows that much stronger as one simple question prompted the creation of an innovative program designed to strengthen a leadership corps and recruit more than 25 senior NCOs in to lead positions as future additional duty first sergeants.