First Term Officers Course

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ryan Walsh
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
As a newly commissioned officer arriving at a first duty station, there can be a swarm of things running through your head. Not only are you faced with the real world aspects of your job that you need to focus on, but you also have to think about being a strong leader and the nuances of communication. It can be overwhelming and can make you feel like your head is spinning trying to keep on top of everything at once.
 
Though I am not “newly” commissioned, my Air Force career is still in its infancy. I have been in for just over a year and a half but Minot is my first real duty station. Coming to a new base in a new place, faced with learning the ins and outs of my job, balancing my work and home life, making sure I am able to lead effectively and doing right by those I oversee can feel like a lot to handle. However, remembering that this isn’t unique to me and that I am not the first person in this position opens up room for learning from others experiences and absorbing their words of wisdom. 
 
This is where the First Term Officer Course comes in. A person who is brand new to something, can’t be expected to know it all. Even if you learn concepts and discuss subjects in a classroom setting, there’s something to be said for learning and applying it all in the “real” world. FTOC allows new officers to learn from the wealth of knowledge and experience of commanders, senior enlisted, and subject matter experts from right here at Minot AFB. It gives them face time and allows for direct discussion about things that these people have seen, gone through or have had to handle throughout their career and lives. 
 
Initially there’s time for inner reflection and learning  the “why” behind what you’re doing. This theme of introspection runs throughout the duration of the course with discussions on conscious bias, emotional intelligence, communication and helpful ways to avoid burnout. We are all human after all and understanding that in yourself and the people you lead, will help empower you to grow your leadership skills and grow compassionate leaders.
 
Some of the impactful moments of FTOC were having the chance to speak with flight, squadron and wing commanders. If you’re new and just starting out at your new duty station and happen to walk by them you might have the inclination to stiffen up. Of course, customs and courtesies are always important but it’s easy to forget they are human and have been in your shoes. Having the time to listen and talk to commanders in a more relaxed environment allowed new officers to hear their stories and ask questions. Listening to our leaders discuss their takeaways over their time in the Air Force helps establish a foundation for young officers.
 
Those stories help serve as mentoring sessions as a leader can help shape a young officer’s perspective. FTOC helps even further by discussing the things a new officer may be faced with. Daily challenges such as  conflict resolution or to sit down and listen to members of the helping agencies to understand the resources available for those in need. It doesn’t always need to be dealing with something serious, it could also just be recognizing when your people just need to dial it back. That’s where conversations of knowing your people and harboring a culture to promote a strong and healthy environment for you and your people to grow and develop come in.

 
FTOC can be a powerful and very beneficial course for new officers to build their foundation and start their career at their first duty station on the right track. It encourages conversation and allows officers to engage with people from all career fields, backgrounds, ranks and experiences. When stepping out of the school house or other training environment and into the “real” world, first term officers may find there’s a lot more on their plate then they realized. FTOC helps bridge those two worlds and empowers officers to be ready for not only being the best officers they can be, but also the best leaders they can be.