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First sergeant symposium

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Julie Gudgel, AETC command chief

One of the hardest working members of any squadron is the first sergeant.  These diamond-wearing Senior NCOs are constantly on the move in all of our commands.  Air Force Instruction 36-2113, “The First Sergeant”, puts their roles and responsibility into perspective… for instance, “First sergeants respond to the needs of unit members 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and may at times be required to work long and irregular hours, as well as travel extensively to and from mission destinations.” 

First sergeants constantly take care of their people so it’s important to ensure they also have the opportunity to come together and learn new skillsets to effectively take care of members from their units, while also taking care of themselves.

Air Education and Training Command’s first sergeants gathered for the 2019 First Sergeants’ Symposium Feb. 25-26 at Patrick Air Force Base’s Tide Club in Satellite Beach, Florida.   After the symposium, the first sergeants headed to the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida. 

“This week they were reminded they are the focus,” said Senior Master Sgt. Garrett Knight, AETC First Sergeants’ Symposium co-lead. “Through this symposium, we were able to update every council in the command on the initiatives, from enlisted developmental teams to first sergeant self-care that AETC leaders are working to continually develop our first sergeants in the field.

“Our senior leaders saw the benefit of understanding our history, reviewing our present state, and looking toward our future, said Chief Master Sgt. Mike Perry, USAF First Sergeant Academy commandant.  “We were able to bring past senior enlisted leaders and current major command and numbered Air Force level chiefs together for frank discussion with our first sergeants. 

Our goal was to provide a platform for our first sergeants to meet and get after issues impacting AETC and our Air Force.  We needed to have hard conversations about our climate, resilience--of our Airmen and first sergeants, and the importance of taking advantage of the first sergeant network.  I think we delivered on that, and first sergeants left with a more strategic view of the issues trending in the command and their roles in engaging on those issues.  As a bonus, they provided our senior enlisted leaders with potential ways forward to address some of those issues.

The first day kicked off with Senior Master Sgt. Robert Gutierrez, Air Force Cross recipient, who shared his story of perseverance and grit.  The symposium included two days of candid breakout sessions and world class briefs led by retired Chief Master Sgt. Lonnie Slater, senior mentor.  The first sergeants also heard from Lt. Col. Alicia Matteson, Headquarters Air Force A1Z who shared expertise on mental health, postvention and lessons learned.

The second day was highlighted by Master Sgt. Shannon Tabor, first sergeant functional assignment manager, and Chief Master Sgt. Mannie Pineiro, first sergeant special duty manager. 

“This was an amazing experience,” said Senior Master Sgt. Candice Fitzmaurice, symposium lead. “To have over 100 of our first sergeants from across the command together emphasized how much we can accomplish when we have a clear focus.  The best part was how we expanded each first sergeant’s network and linked all of the councils across AETC.”

The first sergeants in attendance established new connections and we are already looking forward to next year’s symposium and what it will brings. Chief Master Sgt. Jill Victor, AETC’s new first sergeant functional, will continue to find ways to bring our first sergeants together through consistent communication year round.