FTAC - First stop at a new base Published April 8, 2016 By Airman 1st Class Jessica Weissman Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Transitioning from basic military training and technical training to their first duty station in the operational Air Force can be a struggle for new Airmen unless they are given proper guidance. The First Term Airman's Center is where Airmen receive guidance as they progress into their new career. This week-long course is filled with informative briefings for Airmen new to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota and the Air Force in general. "Airmen can get this information from their units, but it is not quite on the level that we give here at FTAC," said Staff Sgt. Antonio Tanksley, current FTAC team lead assigned to the 5th Operations Support Squadron. "Our course is focused on all of the different agencies on base, how they can help and what the Airmen can do for themselves and their families." Airmen in FTAC learn about programs such as Operation Safe Ride and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, while gaining knowledge on life within the dormitories and the town of Minot. The Airman & Family Readiness Center offers a lot of information for the Airmen and their families, said Tanksley. The AFRC provides information on finances, retirement, employment for spouses, Air Force Aid Society and deployment preparation and reintegration. "Another huge chapter in the curriculum is resiliency," he added. "We set aside a full day of training to focus on the importance of this topic." Resiliency training is fixated on learning about three of the four comprehensive airmen fitness pillars. Spiritual - identifying your beliefs and the sufficiency of those beliefs to help Airmen rebound from trauma. Physical - understanding fitness, recovery, sleep and focus on proper diet to improve mood, focus and energy levels. Social - defining a problem, asking for another's perspective, working together and choosing a solution to seal the agreement. "The Airmen learn to be resilient to everything going on in the Air Force right now and things they may encounter when they leave FTAC," said Tanksley. As the Airmen are learning about all things Team Minot, they are also learning about their new wingmen. "I have met a lot of people since starting FTAC," said Airman 1st Class Michael Robles, an Airman assigned to the 5th Communications Squadron. With a class including maintainers, a fire fighter, and other communications Airmen, Robles said he was able to relate with people he may not have ever met if it were not for FTAC. These Airmen would not be given this information without Tanksley's instruction. "Staff Sgt. Tanksley was a great mentor throughout the course," said Robles. "He appointed me as class leader, so it means he saw something in me and to have someone do that just encourages me to make them proud." Tanksley, who has been a member of Team Minot for two years, has a usual job as an alert facility manager within the Host Aviation Resource Management office. "I decided to get out of my regular job to engage with junior Airmen," he said. "The lowest ranking Airman in my office is a senior airman. So, speaking with Airmen brand new to the Air Force and giving them a positive outlook on a base that they may not have all heard positive things about is big for me." With recommendation from his supervision based on his attitude and personality, Tanksley completed the interview process and became the newest instructor at the beginning of 2016. FTAC instructors are rotated every 90 days between the seven groups at Minot AFB. "Based on a fair share, members are nominated by their chiefs," said Master Sgt. Daniel Mueller, wing career advisor assigned to the 5th Force Support Squadron. "Anyone interested should contact the career assistance advisor or their group chief. The opportunity to become a team lead doesn't come around very often, so after your window is closed the opportunity doesn't come around for almost a year and a half." FTAC is a time for Airmen to understand all of the things offered to them by the Air Force and the surrounding community.