Course sharpens supervisory skills, increases Air Force knowledge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Marcus McDonald
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Malmstrom supervisors can sharpen their skills and increase their Air Force knowledge by taking advantage of a mentorship opportunity offered by the Top 3 and 5/6 Alliance - the First Term Supervisor Course. 

The classes, which take place the first and third Wednesday of each month, cover an array of topics from writing enlisted performance reports and award packages to transitioning from a follower to a leader to a course on progressive discipline. 

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Hansen, FTS course advisor, said the classes are geared toward new or inexperienced mid-level supervisors from senior airmen to technical sergeants. 

"[Participants include] that senior airman who just graduated from Airman Leadership School or the technical sergeant who has not supervised someone in a long time," 
Sergeant Hansen explained. "All in all, any supervisor can benefit from this course." 

Tech. Sgt. Christopher Koopmans, 341st Space Wing Legal Office, teaches the course on progressive discipline. The class shows first-time supervisors how to effectively use all of the corrective tools available to them. 

"My favorite part of teaching the FTS class, or any new supervisor, is knowing I potentially saved a young leader from at least some pain and heartache of dealing with a challenging troop," Sergeant Koopmans said. "I've gone through many challenges as a supervisor and I have had nearly every type of troop there is - all the way from a world-class troop down to the troop that, regardless of the mentorship offered, is just not a good fit for the military. It would not be right of me to hoard that valuable information and experience." 

Tech. Sgt. Susie Enos, 341st Security Forces Group, took part in Sergeant Koopmans' class on progressive discipline and gave it high marks. 

"I thought it was a very resourceful tool," Sergeant Enos said. "They put you into scenarios that will better help you understand many situations that may occur in supervising Airmen." 

Sergeant Enos encouraged supervisors to take advantage of this course. 

"It's definitely worth your time," she said. 

The next FTS class, scheduled for Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon in Room 115 of the Education Center, will be on maintaining and updating on-the-job training records. To sign up for this class or to become one of the FTS course instructors, e-mail Sergeant Hansen at joseph.hansen@malmstrom.af.mil.