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New Airmen learn mission, base services

By Airman Daniel Brosam, 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs / Published April 21, 2016

Joshua Bargas, 341st Missile Wing equal opportunity director, speaks to Airmen during a First Term Airman Class brief at the education center April 21, 2016, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Upon arrival to their first base, new Airmen must attend a week-long series of briefs to better understand the base’s mission and to learn about services available to them. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Brosam)
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Joshua Bargas, 341st Missile Wing equal opportunity director, speaks to Airmen during a First Term Airman Class brief at the education center April 21, 2016, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Upon arrival to their first base, new Airmen must attend a week-long series of briefs to better understand the base’s mission and to learn about services available to them. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Brosam)

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MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Joining the Air Force and attending basic military training and technical school is only a sliver of one's military career. Upon graduation, Airmen are assigned to their first duty station and begin getting accustomed to the base's mission and what it has to offer. To help understand those missions, new Airmen attend a First Term Airman Class upon arrival to their base.

Staff Sgt. Milbert Pascual, 341st Medical Operations Squadron flight NCO in charge of family health and former FTAC instructor, previously lead the week-long class to introduce Airmen to the base.

"FTAC is a requirement by the Air Force for Airmen to attend at their first duty station to instill the standards of the operational Air Force," said Pascual. "They learn about things such as the enlisted force structure, base programs, services and about the mission."

At Malmstrom, speakers from nearly every unit and program on base come to speak with the Airmen and familiarize them with what the base offers.

More importantly, the wing commander briefs the Airmen and gives them the opportunity to learn the importance of their job and role in the Air Force and here at a nuclear missile base.

Pascual said the commander's brief is his favorite because it clears the Airmen's perception of what they are going to be doing upon arriving at Malmstrom. He gave the example of a security forces Airman who thought they would be patrolling the base all day, but in reality the Airman would be helping the Air Force secure intercontinental ballistic missiles in a 13,800 square mile missile complex.

"That is why I love that part of the briefing where they tell them how important their job is at Malmstrom," said Pascual. "To me, (Air Force Global Strike Command) is one of the most important commands in the Air Force because of our job in nuclear deterrence and the ability to strike anywhere in the world."

At the end of FTAC, questionnaires are given to the Airmen and most of the time the feedback is positive, Pascual said.

"As an instructor or supervisor, it is my job to be an example of standards," said Pascual. "I want to show them that supervisors are here for Airmen."

He added, he feels FTAC is helpful because it lets Airmen know they always have support to make sure their body and mind is prepared to successfully execute the mission every day.
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