Spangdahlem hosts USAFE FTAC conference Published Oct. 31, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The 52nd Fighter Wing career assistance advisor will host to the first-ever U.S. Air Forces in Europe CAA/First Term Airman Center Conference at Spangdahlem Air Base Nov. 16-17. The conference is designed to optimize and standardize USAFE FTAC programs and end with a CAA and FTAC NCOIC trip to the Order of the Sword Ceremony at Ramstein Air Base. "It all started when 52nd FW command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Vance Clarke asked me to do a curriculum comparison of all the FTACs in USAFE," said Master Sgt. Thomas Hartswick, 52nd FW CAA. "Tech. Sgt. Melissa Girouard, 52nd FW FTAC NCOIC, and I went out to USAFE to gather the data and we developed product listing the entire FTAC curriculum for each wing in USAFE. We found significant differences in our programs." Sergeant Hartswick talked to his CAA/FTAC counterparts at the worldwide conference during the summer and suggested they hold a USAFE, specific conference to help standardize programs. "I received an overwhelming 'yes,' so I suggested the idea to Chief Clarke," he said. "He brought the idea to the USAFE Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Gary Coleman, and he thought it was a great, so I drafted up a conference agenda." The FTAC program at Spangdahlem is designed to meet the needs of new Airmen arriving at their first duty assignment; focusing on in-processing, getting Airmen ready to learn their jobs and providing an environment to meet other Airmen. "It also lays a foundation that will last their entire career such as the Wingman concept, teamwork, making right choices and it lets them know they are now part of our Air Force family," Sergeant Hartswick said. "We in-process 500 Airmen a year and before we send an Airman to their duty section they are required to complete five CBTs, get their physical health assessment, dental screening, gas mask fit test and pick up their chemical warfare gear." They also complete their travel voucher, four virtual in-processing requirements and receive 40 briefings from subject matter experts on military equal opportunity, saber smart choices and other subjects. In addition, they are given the opportunity test for their U.S. Armed Forces in Europe driver's license. "We take pride in ensuring that when our Airmen have finished in-processing FTAC, we send them to their duty section ready to open their career development course books, 623s and focus on learning their jobs without having to worry about going here or there to get briefings or training because we already gave it to them at FTAC," Sergeant Hartswick said. "During this conference our hope is that other FTACs will gain from our program and we gain from theirs as well, all in an effort to make the USAFE FTAC program the best in the Air Force," he said. For more career information, visit the 52nd FW Professional Enhancement Center Web site at https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/ASPs/CoP/OpenCoP.asp?Filter=OO-ED-FE-02