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20th FSS Airmen host commissioning mentorship panel

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  
Career assistance advisors from the 20th Force Support Squadron are scheduled to host a commissioning mentorship panel at the 20th FSS Spratt Education Center here, June 23.

Panel members, company grade officers who were previously enlisted, will provide information for up to 36 enlisted Airmen about commissioning options available and share their experiences.

More than 30 Airmen attended the first panel April 28.

“We (CAAs) see on average eight to 10 members each week with questions regarding commissioning,” said Master Sgt. Jamell Camper, 20th FSS CAA. “Individuals have been under the impression that the CAAs are the experts as far as commissioning and we are not.”

Noticing there was a need for more information about commissioning, the CAAs sought out newer officers who had recently gone through the process and created the new program.

“Many of the people we see have no clue where to start so we want to ensure they get that information,” said Master Sgt. Carlos Sullivan, 20th FSS CAA. “We needed to have a venue where they have the opportunity to ask questions to help direct them down the correct path.”

Discussion topics will include the Scholarship for Outstanding Airman, Officer Training School, the Air Force Academy and the Airman Scholarship Commissioning Program. Panel members will also discuss the importance of taking initiative during the application processes as they are mostly self-driven.

“The person who is responsible for your package being done, and being done correctly, is you,” said 1st Lt. Brian Cockroft, panel member and 20th FSS sustainment services flight commander. “There’s only one person pushing that train and it’s you. There’s going to be a lot of people saying, ‘It’s difficult’ or, ‘I tried and this external circumstance did me wrong.’ ... That’s why they didn’t make it. Why are you going to make it?”

In hopes of reaching as many interested enlisted members as they can, the CAAs plan to host the panels quarterly, but will adjust the frequency if the needs of the base populace change, said Sullivan.