New FTAC changes streamline Airmen inprocessing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The First Term Airmen Center revamped its curriculum in June and it now actively involves frontline supervisors with the integration of new Airmen on base. 

In the past, Malmstrom FTAC classes were consistently rotating-in new Airmen on a 10-day overlapping schedule. Each Wednesday, FTAC would graduate half the Airmen and then in-process newly assigned Airmen on Thursdays. Now it's a condensed, five-day schedule created to return Airmen back to their units quicker. 

"After a meeting with our command chief, it was decided there wasn't a need for an overlapping class anymore due to the low number of first term Airmen," said Staff Sgt. Chris Coleman, FTAC NCO in charge. "The changes to our course here were long overdue. There was just not enough course material for us to fill up a 10-day schedule." 

The changes allowed the FTAC staff and wing leadership to incorporate Air Force Space Command's "Year of Leadership" program in an effort to emphasize leadership traits and skills, and increase involvement with those who lead. 

"It was this program that became the basis for our new FTAC 'Transition' ceremony," Sergeant Coleman said. "Attendance is mandatory for all frontline supervision responsible for their new Airmen." 

The ceremony consists of a chief master sergeant guest speaker, a Sharp Troop Award presentation, and closing remarks by the wing commander. The Airmen's supervisors or representatives from their units are required to attend and receive the First Term Airmen. In the past, the Airmen were released and told to go to their unit. 

"Changes were implemented to refocus the mission of FTAC which is to provide a structured program to transition Airmen from a training mindset to a mission-oriented environment," said Master Sgt. Tim Hezel, 341st Force Support Squadron career assistance advisor and FTAC supervisor. "The FTAC course is five days long and supervisors need to understand it is not every week. [Supervisors] need to use the Malmstrom Community of Practice site to register their new Airmen to attend FTAC within the first 30 days of arrival." 

The new FTAC Air Force Instruction 36-2624 replaced the old AFI, shortening FTAC Air Force-wide. The old AFI states FTAC should be a minimum of 10 days and maximum of 30 days. Now the minimum is 28 hours and the max is 10 days. 

"I believe these changes have already reduced the turnover from the time the Airmen arrived to FTAC to the time their units get them back," Sergeant Coleman said. "We have cut the length of the course in half and filled in all the gaps so there is no downtime. We are able to get our Airmen the same information in half the time." 

To register a newly assigned Airman into FTAC, visit https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/Malmstrom.