Vance staff sergeants attend Career Enhancement Seminar Published Nov. 28, 2006 By TSgt David McClelland Base enlisted professional development manager Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- NCO professional development isn't just sprinkled throughout one's career -- it's woven within it to create a seamless transition from Airman to senior NCO. Using curriculum and guidelines created by a panel of chief master sergeants, MSgt David Poppinga, wing career assistance adviser, and the enlisted professional development manager developed the topics and agendas to bring the base's first Career Enhancement Seminar to life Jan. 11 to 13. Members were selected from a pool of NCOs that earned their staff sergeant stripes and who had not received Professional Military Education within three years. During the three days, the course curriculum consisted of NCO expectations, heritage, the new Enlisted Force Structure, counseling and mentoring, Military Equal Opportunity, fitness and health, team building, Aerospace Expeditionary Force, discipline from the perspective of Vance AFB first sergeants and judge advocate general, writing, training and education, senior enlisted panel and a dormitory tour. The topic receiving the most praise was 71st Mission Support Group Commander Col. Fred Cheney's presentation on career progression based upon his experience in the senior master sergeant selection process. Additional topics will be added as the development course extends to the required three complete days, Sergeant Poppinga said. "I believe that NCOs who have been out of Airman Leadership School for longer than a year need this course," said SSgt Lisa Baker, Health and Wellness Center NCO for the 71st Medical Group. "This was a great place to ask questions and get the correct information to not only set yourself up for success, but to mentor and guide your troops in the right direction." SSgt Lynn Curley, an air traffic controller with the 71st Operations Support Squadron, thought she was doing a pretty good job as an NCO. "This class showed me where I was coming up short and gave me the tools and ideas on how to improve in those areas," Sergeant Curley said. "This class is good because it will help build better junior NCOs and hopefully make better senior NCOs." MSgt Joe Davis, 71st MSG first sergeant, said the course provided a great outlet for first sergeants to share experiences with the younger troops. "Building stronger NCOs may help diffuse many situations that could have been handled at the lower levels with better informed NCOs," the 71st MSG first sergeant said. This is another avenue Vance AFB is using to reach the NCO corps with updated, current information to develop stronger and more productive leaders.