CGOC presents improved first term officers’ course

Twelve lieutenants and one captain participated in the KMC Company Grade Officers’ Council first term officers’ course Nov. 8 on Ramstein.

The daylong orientation integrated the KMC’s newest officers into the operational Air Force, allowing veteran CGOs to mentor their peers and new CGOs an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns.

“The aim of this event is to provide new first-term officers with practical information not necessarily taught at base in-processing, their commissioning source or sponsorship,” said Capt. Ada Boettcher, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels flight commander and FTOC coordinator. “It provides an informal forum for CGOs to pass on local-area knowledge, mission knowledge, as well as their personal ‘lessons learned’ to the new officers. Not only will new CGOs gain great information, but they will also meet and interact with people from all over the KMC.”

CGOC members, senior enlisted personnel and civilians helped to coordinate the course, which covered a wide variety of topics.

Specifically, FTOC participants were able to discuss officer and enlisted performance reports, enrollment in graduate school, legal and medical issues, key squadron roles and base functions.

“As officers, from the day we arrive we are concerned about taking care of the Airmen, but (FTOC) helps us learn to navigate the base and take care of ourselves,” said 2nd Lt. Erik Piña, 786th Force Support Squadron assistance force support officer. “It allowed me to grasp all these new tasks in a compressed time as opposed to learning it over a few months.”

Many of the officers attending FTOC arrived at Ramstein only one or two months ago. The course aided them in understanding the role of the base.

“I enjoyed learning about the ‘big picture’ here and about all the different missions on base,” said 2nd Lt. Emily Angell, 86th Comptroller Squadron financial services assistant flight commander.

The FTOC participants also had the opportunity to network and learn about career fields other than their own.

“I was fascinated to learn about the legal aspect and courts martial processes,” said Capt. Carmen Galea, 86th Dental Squadron dentist. “Our medical field is isolated sometimes, so it was nice to get out and meet other people around base.”

As the second annual FTOC organized by the CGOC, improvements were made to the course to ensure the new lieutenants received critical guidance.

“We changed a few things from last year,” said 1st Lt. Bonnie Lange, 721st Aerial Port Squadron section commander. As an FTOC participant last year, she was eager to coordinate the topics of discussion and learning points this year. “We wanted to ensure that this year we focused on giving the FTOC class exposure to new locations and most importantly, exposure to fellow CGOs.”

One change included ensuring FTOC participants attended a CGOC general council meeting during their course.

They joined more than 40 other CGOs from the KMC at the general CGOC monthly meeting where Lt. Gen. Noel T. Jones, U.S. Air Forces in Europe vice commander, was the guest speaker.

Jones discussed professional military education, continuous leadership development and the future of USAFE and the Air Force, and also provided time to answer questions.

The course ended at the Belgian Support Unit, where the first term officers met with a captain’s panel to pass on advice and guidance.

“We’re here to help,” said Capt. A.J. Brilla, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron operations officer, who briefed at the captain’s panel. “Whatever you need, we’ll help you to find it, help you to learn it; we’re here for you.”

“The course was very helpful,” Angell said. “There are things you can figure out on your own, but why not take the lessons learned from our fellow CGOs?”

For more information on CGOC events, email Capt. J DeMeo, 86th DS, at j.demeo@ramstein.af.mil.