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SG Force development division guarantees Airmen medic readiness

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Geneva Croxton
  • Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
 

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- In a small office on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, a team of three civilians and four active duty Airmen work diligently to provide oversight for the budget, manpower, resources and curriculum for Air Education and Training Command formal medical training.

This team, known as the AETC Surgeon General Force Development Division, is dedicated to their motto of “Right Student, Right Training, Right Time.” The work is all inclusive- managing both initial skills to readiness, advanced and supplemental courses for officers and enlisted members.

Over the next 7 years, the Air Force’s goal is to grow to a force of 324,000 Airmen.  As this happens, the force development division’s responsibility will grow as well. Currently, the division ensures 59,000 total force medics have the opportunity to obtain a seat in an AETC formal medical training courses.  With 24 enlisted initial skills courses, often consolidated with the Army and Navy;   Initial skills courses for novice nurses, physician assistants and healthcare administrators, as well as the Aeromedical Evacuation and Patient Staging Course and Expeditionary Medical Support Course where medics practice hands-on field training during complicated exercises are also the responsibility of the force development division. 

“Many of the enlisted initial skills courses are consolidated with the Army and Navy at the Medical Education and Training Campus at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston,” said Col. Thomas Harrell, command surgeon general. “We work with our sister services on a regular basis to ensure the highest quality training for our enlisted medics.  This consolidation is extremely beneficial for Airmen as the Air Force seeks to enable joint force success.”

The force development division also offers professional development courses like Intermediate Executive Skills, Nursing Service Management and the Combined Senior Leadership Course for additional training.

“The increase in the number of Airmen that the Air Force is building toward will increase the number of students going through our initial skills pipeline training,” said Col. Jennifer Kimmet, AETC’s Force Development Division director.  “We will need to ensure we have sufficient resources to meet that increase with classroom space and instructors.  Our training is open and available to any medic who requires it.”           

Successful force development of Air Force medical personnel is a team project in AETC’s surgeon general’s directorate.  The Force Development Division works hand-in-hand with the Medical Readiness Division for deployments, the Medical Modernization Division for up-to-date equipment and simulator technology and the Medical Support Division for manpower and resource needs.  “From creating seats and placing Airmen in initial medical training to providing larger readiness training courses to medics, we ensure Airmen are highly trained and skilled, prepared to meet the full spectrum of military operations in support of combatant commanders, Kimmet said.  “With teamwork and dedication, Airmen medics stay prepared to save lives.”