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Becoming a new supervisor is a reality many service members eventually face as they progress through their individual service career paths.
To assist members of Team MacDill gain insight and knowledge of how to be a better supervisor, the MacDill first sergeants’ Gasparilla Diamonds Council developed a supervisor course to educate and develop junior-enlisted and officers of any branch of service.
“I discovered the idea while I was deployed as a first sergeant to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and the ‘Be a Better Supervisor’ course was taught by one of the additional duty first sergeants,” said Master Sgt. Travis Eldridge, 6th Comptroller Squadron and Wing Staff Agencies’ first sergeant. “I love teaching, so any chance I got I had to teach professional development, and he (Master Sgt. Justin Cheeks) offered to let me take over the program.”
Eldridge, together with other first sergeants, brought the month-long course to MacDill during the COVID-19 pandemic. The course offers new supervisors and those who just want more knowledge, a means to learn and connect with others.
“The ultimate goal was to provide a monthly, flexible, comprehensive professional development course that touched on various supervisor-related topics,” said Eldridge. “Additionally, it offers a way for various (service members) of all career fields to connect and build relationships.”
Topics discussed during the course include: Mentorship, development, leadership and crisis intervention. Each topic is explained in depth and the first sergeants each give their own personal perspective on what supervisors should know to improve their supervisory and leadership skills.
“One key piece of training we offer in BABS, is our mentorship lessons,” said Master Sgt. Lordell Wilson, 6th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. “Early in my career, we always talked about being a mentor, but not the pitfalls or true responsibilities behind it.”
“We focus on deliberate mentorship, and that it’s not a ‘do as I do’ mindset but purposeful discussion, actions and guidance so that those we mentor can increase their diversity, knowledge and experience,” added Wilson.
Eldridge explained that the course works to fill in any gaps between attending mandatory military professional development courses and everyone can find a benefit throughout the course’s lessons.
“The most beneficial piece of the course for me was learning something new each week on the different topics of discussion,” said Tech. Sgt. Amy Chismar, 6th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of administration and reports. “During the course, a subordinate in my unit came to me for advice, and it just so happened that we had a discussion on this certain topic in the course and I was able to provide fresh information to him to help resolve their issue.”
After completing the four lessons of the course, attendees earn a course certificate signed by the Gasparilla Diamonds Council president and the 6th Air Refueling Wing command chief.
“Looking back when I was a younger Airman, a course like this would’ve been a huge benefit to me,” said Eldridge. “I thought first sergeants dealt with morale, health and discipline, but we wanted this course to focus on so much more than that.”
The BABS team hopes that those who complete the course are ready to tackle any challenge they may face as a new supervisor, including a new approach to thinking through a problem.
For more information about the course, contact the MacDill Gasparilla Diamonds Council at (813) 828-0035 or 7782.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 10.09.2020 10:03 |
| Story ID: | 380636 |
| Location: | TAMPA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MacDill first sergeants provide mentorship to new supervisors, by SSgt Adam Shanks, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
