Has anybody heard anything about some new professional development course that they're coming out with? My supervisor signed me up for this course, and all he knows about it is that it's supposed to get you ready to be a SrA, and to help you get used to PME courses. Basically from what I understand it's a mini ALS course. I'll post more information as I receive it, but I was wondering if anybody else had heard of this.
They did a course a few years back for SSgt/new TSgt to get ready for the NCO academy. The course durations was about a week if I remember right. It made lots of noise at first and grabbed lots of headlines at Kirtland, but nothing came of it. Units realized the value wasn't that great compared to the cost of lost manpower and the classes quit getting filled. When that happened the course faded away. Not before getting the guy who set it up promoted of course.
I've heard about that also, as well as the NCO preparatory course. Its basically the AF trying to cram PME down your throat every couple years and to "re-blue" you. I'm guessing it may give you tips on boards and how to prepare yourself for BTZ,etc. Just take it at face value, good info/concepts but probably not applicable in real life(well it could be if, squadrons didnt make up own policy)
Thanks for the feedback. When I was told about it, it sounded more like another EPR bullet than something that would actually be useful. The class is only two days long, the first day sounds like it's going to be a lot of outdoors stuff, and the second day will probably involve some kind of graduation event.
I just got a new rater, who happens to also be the training manager, so he's putting me in every class that he can. It makes his job easier, because that means more bullets to choose from when writing my EPR, and I want to do as much as possible while I'm in, so everybody wins.
My understanding is professional development and PME are two different animals. Development is "optional" and a good EPR/OPR bullet. PMEis required for promotion - if you don't have it you won't get promoted.
My advice is take advanage of all you can - there is no guarantee you will be in the AF forever.
