JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM -- The First Term Airmen Center (FTAC) recently had the opportunity to inform and enhance the lives of United States Coast Guard members they hosted nine Coastguardsmen in their most recent classes.
The cross-service education marks the beginning of a partnership between the Air Force and Coast Guard where the FTAC will provide their curriculum to Coast Guardsmen who are relatively new to their service.
“The Coast Guard approached us about attending FTAC,” said Master Sgt. Rebecca Pash, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Career Assistance Advisor. “We had eight students in the first class, and one during the most-current course. They add a dynamic to our course and we know this ongoing partnership will serve to enhance the learning experience of both the students and the instructors.”
According to Pash, many of the students claim they wish they had the opportunity to take the class sooner.
During the weeklong course, FTAC instructors and guest speakers brief Airmen (and now Coastguardsmen) on topics including financial management, effective communication concepts, legal guidance, enlisted force structure and other skills which will help them transition from the ‘tech-school’ mentality to an ‘active-duty’ one.
Beyond the informative briefings and lessons learned during class, the students have the chance to do something almost as important as arming oneself with knowledge – network.
"I would say the networking and meeting other new service members is a great benefit of FTAC," said MSgt. Pash. “We hold approximately 22 classes per year averaging 15-20 students per class, and classes are usually held every other week. This gives the students the chance to meet their peers from other career fields, which will help them down the road in a litany of situations.”
Coastguardsman Bryce Wilson, who currently is a non-rate, (his job has not been formally assigned to him yet) has been stationed Hawaii for several months and said the class served as a great tool to help him become a better service member.
“The class taught me concepts of effective communication between peers and their supervisor,” he said. “Learning how to communicate effectively will greatly benefit not just the supervision aspect of my career, but simple interactions throughout it as well.”
“Everyone was welcoming, and I would recommend this class to any of my fellow Coasties,” he said. “The whole class is informative and is the perfect starting point for any military member.”