Professional development briefed at first Lunch and Learn

  • Published
  • By Airman John Day
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  An informational Lunch and Learn was held Jan. 30, 2015, at the Columbus Club.

Master Sgt. Joseph Arce, 14th Operation Support Squadron Chief Controller and the leader of professional development in the Top 3, hosted the event.

Many Airmen from the rank of senior airman to master sergeant gathered to attend the luncheon.

"My goal is to start hosting lunch sessions where you can spend a little of your time over lunch to learn something that you didn't know at the end of the day," Arce said.

He spoke at length on many topics relating to career progression and board evaluations. He first explained how to access records in the career data brief and to check it often for updates and to ensure all information is accurate.

"It is your responsibility to recognize an error," Arce said. "The only person here who can do yourself an injustice is you."

Arce encouraged Airmen not to stay in one job for too long, as diversity within your career field will help show the ability to lead more and more as a supervisor preparing for a management position.

"When you are in a one-deep-shop, where you deal with maybe one program, it's not the same as the guy next to you taking care of five, 10 or 20 Airmen," Arce said. "People get promoted based on what they are doing and how they are doing it."

The next presentation involved preparing for meeting selection boards to reach the rank of master sergeant, senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant. He explained how the boards are scored, what constitutes a good score, what you need to do prior to submitting a package and who scores the boards and how they do it.

The board consists of two colonels and one chief master sergeant. If the three raters' scores are not consistent within a half-point, then a general will review the package and make the final decision.

Arce emphasized staying consistent throughout your career by always trying your best, submitting packages for awards every quarter, applying for additional duties and education.

"If you can show examples of things you have put in for, that's what they want to see: consistency," Arce said.

The meeting ended with Arce talking about the next Lunch and Learn, which will be centered around assignments including how to increase your chances of getting one and what could prevent you from getting one.