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Enhancement program helps young Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman Gwendalyn Smith
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- --  375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

The Enlisted Professional Enhancement Center held an Airman Enhancement Program Jan. 13-15 to help young servicemembers gain a deeper knowledge about the Air Force.

"The AEP is a stepping stone for Airmen Basic through Senior Airmen who have not been through any sort of Professional Military Education," said Master Sgt. Jeremy Wiley, 375th Force Support Squadron career assistant advisor. "It's to help them get a better understanding and a better grasp on what is going on in today's Air Force."

Wiley said that this class is beneficial because it provides an opportunity to teach developmental skills to Airmen who are relatively new to the military.

"The Air Force gives us the freedom to create professional development opportunities for all ranks," said Wiley. "We deemed it important that we teach the NCO and Senior NCO tiers, but until Airmen go through Airmen Leadership School there are no formal PME courses. We felt we were really missing an opportunity to mentor young Airmen."

Airman 1st Class Alexis Thomas, 54th Airlift Squadron aviation resource manager, said, "They provided a lot of information that you really don't think about at our level. I didn't think about Enlisted Performance Reports too much, because I don't write them. They taught us to look two ranks ahead."

Airman 1st Class Kelsey Palmer, 375th Force Support Squadron fitness technician, said, "I learned about assignments, Permanent Change of Station, and time management. We also learned about meeting the board--something that a lot of Airmen are clueless about. I think it should be mandatory for all Airmen, because you learn so much that you wouldn't have known before."

Future Airmen Enhancement Program classes, which are open to all personnel from Airman Basic through Senior Airmen, will be held again April 27-29, Sept. 7-9, and Oct. 26-28. Interested parties need to register at https://cs3.eis.af.mil/sites/OO-ED-AM-52/registration/Registration/Registration.aspx.