Leadership course provides civilian college credit hours

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Minnette Mason
  • 926th Group public affairs
Airmen and NCOs now have an opportunity to receive two college credit hours in management from a civilian institution by attending a 10-day NCO Leadership Development Course.

The Air Force Reserve Command teamed up with Central Texas College to offer a two-phase course that "combines college-level academic management and leadership instruction with a military practical, experiential, hands-on application," according to the NCOLDC overview handout.

Phase One covers management and leadership topics, including the management process, leadership, military heritage and fit to fight. The second phase covers leadership communication, where students discuss communication skills, principles of counseling, time management and stress in the workplace. Each phase is broken up into three days of academic instruction and two days of practical exercises.

"Ultimately, the course teaches [students] how to be better managers and how to motivate people to do their best," said Shauna Madden, NCOLDC instructor with Central Texas College. "We've changed our focus on the person behind the machine, instead of just focusing on the machine."

The course provides a platform for students to learn how to lead and adapt skills to communicate with people on all levels, whether up or down the chain of command, she added.

"We want them to become better leaders and NCOs than they were when they first arrived [to class]," said Senior Master Sgt. Morales, NCOLD facilitator with the 514th Air Mobility Wing in New Jersey. "We're trying to strengthen the culture and broaden these NCOs' horizons."

After completing an exam for each phase, military facilitators provide exercise scenarios for the students to apply newly-learned techniques. Based on real-life scenarios, the exercises are supposed to help instill pride and provide a better understanding for the rank each student wears, Sergeant Morales said.

"We allow them to 'take the material and go' so they can build their own leadership qualities and styles," he added.

And this is exactly how they learn, according to recent NCOLDC graduate Tech. Sgt. Paz, from the 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

"They really focus on who you are as a leader," she said. "I learned what I wanted to be, and how to get there."

Senior Airman Tauro, medic with the 926th Aerospace Medicine Flight, agreed. She's also a recent graduate from the course.

"[The course] teaches you how to work as a team, instead of doing everything by yourself," she said. "I had a lot of fun. I also met a lot of people."

The course is geared towards senior airmen, staff sergeants and technical sergeants, said Master Sgt. McKinstry, chief of Education and Training with the 926th Mission Support Squadron. It's offered semi-annually at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., with the most recent class graduating Aug. 20.

The next class is scheduled to begin Feb. 7, 2011, and graduate Feb. 18. For those interested in attending, contact your supervisor or unit training manager. Seats for this class are available on a first-come, first serve basis.