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Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. A.J. Montgomery
  • 43rd Airlift Wing
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Pope's newest master sergeant selects are getting some help in their promotion to senior NCO status. More than 40 local technical sergeants have learned since May that they will make the move to senior NCO status. All, if available for duty, will attend the 2009 Senior NCO Professional Enhancement Seminar Aug. 3 - 6 to ready them for the step up. Some also attended an earlier seminar held July 13 - 16. 

The Pope Top 3 and an all-volunteer team will be conducting the 2009 Senior NCO Induction Ceremony in the main ballroom of the Pope Club on Aug. 7. 

The professional enhancement seminar conducted by Senior Master Sgt. Joseph R. Laursen, 43rd Airlift Wing Career Advisor, and an all-volunteer team of SNCO instructors, focuses on building supervisory skills and offers instruction in counseling, effective writing and NCO leadership among other topics. The goal is to provide each new master sergeant with information that will help them be successful leaders, mentors and supervisors. 

"We're giving them useful tools that they can take back to the work center and apply, as well as a chance to network with peers," said Sergeant Laursen. 

In addition, the participants in the professional enhancement seminar will receive orientation from the First Sergeants Council, Chiefs Group and the Airman and Family Readiness Center. They will also get a leadership perspective with several guest speakers to include the 43rd Airlift Wing Commander and Command Chief Master Sergeant. 

Senior NCOs are expected to lead by example, be decisive, accept responsibility and create an atmosphere of teamwork. They are to take care of their people, providing feedback and training and recognizing special achievement. They are expected to be professional in appearance, communication, counseling, enforcing standards and maintaining discipline. 

Pope will pay tribute on a grand scale to its newest master sergeant selects during the Senior NCO Induction Ceremony at the Pope Club on Aug. 7. The guest speaker is Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Sullens, Command Chief for HQ Air Combat Command.
Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., with a social at 6 p.m. 

Tickets are limited, so guests should reserve their seats as early as possible through their First Sergeant.