Moody hosts first sergeants' symposium

  • Published
  • By Airman Alexis Grotz
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
Moody Air Force Base, Ga. --  Technical and master sergeants from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., gathered for a first sergeants symposium June 25 to 27.

The symposium was designed for NCOs interested in becoming a first sergeant. The seminar covered the duties of first sergeants and how to handle many different situations.

A first sergeant is a senior NCO position who provides assistance for all readiness, health, morale, welfare and quality-of-life issues within his or her organization. They also mentor Airmen to help get them focused on accomplishing the mission.

"The seminar helps the NCOs if they are interested in becoming a first sergeant," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dillon Johnson, 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. "Also it gave them insight to the job and what it's all about as well as experiences that former first sergeants have gone through."

Besides just having former and current first sergeants there to talk about their experiences, the symposium also invited different outside agencies such as; Family Advocacy, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program, the legal office and Airmen and Family Readiness Center.

"The briefing that I did not know the most about is the legal aspect that first sergeants have to deal with," said Tech Sgt. Rhianna Hall 23d Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of Combat Arms.

The symposium is held annually at Moody to give everyone the opportunity to attend.

"The primary goal is to recruit first sergeants," said Johnson. "We also want to allow people to hear a broad range of perspectives about the job."

There were 44 NCOs who attended the symposium, held at the First Term Airman Center.

"The symposium helped show me the areas that I need to work on to professionally be where I need to be to become a first sergeant," said Hall.

Hall says there were a lot of great speakers and the info was very helpful. Overall she enjoyed attending and says it is one of her goals to become a first sergeant one day.

"For this job you must be able to set aside your beliefs to help the Airmen," said Hall. "You have to be able to think 'can I do this personally and mentally to be able to deal with issues that will affect you emotionally.'"

The first sergeant symposium is designed to educate, recruit and allow NCOs the opportunity to get more information on what the job of a first sergeant is and tasks that they face.