Force Support Squadron stands up CMSAF VISIT - San Antonio News

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PAGE 18 TALESPINNERJULY 17, 2009AFISR makes civilian development a priorityBy Danny WarrenAFISR Agency Manpower and PersonnelThe Air Force is paying moreattention than ever to civilian careerdevelopment, enhancement andexpanding various developmentalopportunities.The Air Force Intelligence,Surveillance and ReconnaissanceAgency understands the direct correlationbetween civilian career developmentand mission success, and isstrengthening its focus on growingISR civilian leaders.There are a number of trainingand education opportunities sponsoredby either the Air Force or itsSR Agency that civilians can use toosture themselves for future leaderhippositions.The Civilian Developmental EduationProgram is among these Airorce-sponsored opportunities. Accrdingto Air Force Personnel Centerfficials, the development and leaderhipopportunities offered by the CDEprogram are designed to preparefuture leaders with the skills to meetboth corporate Air Force and functionalleadership requirements.This program is divided into intermediatedevelopmental educationand senior developmental education.Schools include the Air War College,the Air Command and Staff College,the Air Force Institute of Technology,the Harvard School of Government,the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology and the Air ForceLegislative Fellows Program. Duringthe past five years, the Air Force ISRAgency has had 28 high-potentialcivilians nominated to attend, and 15selected for a 53 percent selectionrate.IDE and SDE are offered throughthe annual CDE call, but that’s notall. Several AF-wide calls are advertisedduring the year with the sameintent, preparing future civilian leaders.These calls include in-residenceprograms such as the Air and SpaceBasic Course, Squadron OfficerSchool, the Air Command and StaffCollege Distance Learning Master’sProgram and the National DefenseIntelligence College, formerly knownas the Joint Military IntelligenceCollege. Each of these programs andschools targets specific grades, andmost importantly, provides civiliansthe same experience and knowledgeas their military counterparts.During the past few years, AirUniversity selected six agency civiliansto attend SOS, a 38 percentselection rate. In 2008, the Air Forceopened the ACSC Distance LearningMaster’s Program to civilians, allowinggraduates of the 24-month programto earn a Master of OperationalArt and Science degree while completingintermediate-level ProfessionalMilitary Education. In 2009,one agency individual has beenselected and will begin the courses inOctober.Air Force ISR Agency-sponsoredprograms include tuition assistance,the Command Intern Program andvarious training opportunities.Tuition assistance, officially knownas the Civilian Tuition AssistanceProgram, offers civilian employeesfunds to pursue their post-secondaryacademic goals. This program paysfor accredited college courses relatedto job or mission requirements. TheAFISR Agency will pay 100 percent ofthe tuition up to $750 per course andup to $4,500 per fiscal year. SinceCTAP started, the agency has paid formore than 500 undergraduate andgraduate level courses, benefitingmore than 150 agency civilians eachfiscal year.For civilians already attending college,there’s the Command InternProgram. Since its inception in 1998,this dual-tier program has focused ontechnical, intelligence and professionaldevelopmental positions atentry-grade levels.Its participants can be stationed atLackland; Langley AFB, Va.; PatrickSee DEVELOPMENT P20BeResponsible!Seat BeltsSave Lives!Buckle UpAnd WearYours!
JULY 17, 2009TALESPINNERPAGE 19ITT office offers a world of great benefitsBy Patrick DesmondStaff WriterFrom Walt Disney theme parks tojet-set resorts, Lackland’s Information,Tickets and Travel officehands Department of Defense affiliatesthe world at a discounted price.With a travel agency, and local andnational ticket vendors under its roof,the base ITT office specializes in offeringcustomers information on venues,pricing sometimes substantially lowerthan commercial services, and blueprintsto the ideal vacation.In local attractions, Team Lacklandcan find discounts to sporting events,restaurants, hotels, performances atthe Majestic Theatre and a variety ofRiver Walk attractions.Some of the more popular entertainmentis found at Six Flags FiestaTexas with day passes more than $25off regular admission prices.The office also works with SeaWorld and has an upcoming militaryfamily picnic planned, complete withentrance to the park, a petting zoo anda full all-you-can-eat barbeque buffetfor less than the price of regularadmission.“We’ll only make a dollar on theticket but we like to do things like thatas a way to give back to Lackland,”ITT Director Sherry Booher said.More than deals to movie theaters,theme parks and discounted dining,ITT is also a hub of information forfamilies visiting graduating Airmenwith a location at the basic militarytraining reception center.Due to its success, last year’s “BestITT in the Air Force” offers discountsall over Texas and most of the U.S.,too.“It allows us to offer a huge, widevariety of things. We may sell fourtickets a season to Pigeon Forge,Tenn., but it’s having that option,” Ms.Booher said. “And now we sell morebecause people know that we offerthem.”A current hot ticket item is DisneyWorld in Orlando, Fla; where militarymembers can save 40 percent off hotellodging.The fully incorporated travel agencyoffers patrons the chance to speakwith travel agents when coordinatingsuch trips, providing information andquotes on car rental, hotel reservationsand local diversions.Ms. Booher said imparting how-totravelknowledge is an important serviceITT provides the sojourner.“All of our travel agents are experienced,”the former travel agent for 10years said. “We have experiencedagents who know the business andknow what they are talking about.”Ms. Booher said the key to travel isto plan ahead, especially when searchingfor cheap airfare and hotel lodging.“They may only have 10 seats atthat (discounted) price but it gets themPhoto by Alan BoedekerSenior Master Sgt. Lorenzo Steele, 67th Network Warfare Wing, buys five tickets to“Walking With Dinosaurs” from Sherry Booher, the Information, Tickets and Traveloffice director.a world of advertising,” she said. “Thefurther out you book, the more youcan take advantage of available cheapseats.”ITT travel specialist BelindaKahapoas has planned her fair shareof trips.“For a honeymoon in Ireland, a(customer) came to me and said ‘Iwant to stay in a castle,’” Ms. Kahapoarecalled. “So I set it up. I got a car forthem and set them up in a castle. Shecame back and said the whole thingwas haunted. She had a great time.”New to the list of services, newlywedscan set up a honeymoon registryfor contributions from friends andfamily.“Instead of a registry at Dillard’s,people can send in (money) toward ahoneymoon package that a couple haspre-planned,” Ms. Booher said. “A lotSee BENEFITS P23
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