Airmen sail into Coast Guard Academy

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Two Senior NCOs recently had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy in Petaluma, Calif. 

Master Sergeants Christopher King and Chance Glascock took advantage of the advanced training offered to just 40 Air Force senior NCOs a year. 

The five-week course stresses leadership and teamwork during the transition from E-6 to E-7, the most critical transition in a Coast Guard enlisted career. The Coast Guard's chief petty officer corps is acknowledged to be the backbone of their enlisted workforce.

For students from the Air Force, the class is an opportunity to learn about leadership and teamwork from a different viewpoint. 

"They really focus on teambuilding," said Master Sgt. Christopher King, 31st Mission Support Squadron first sergeant. "The course also gives you a real sense and feel for how the other services operate." 

The opportunity to attend a sister-service school is not only important and beneficial for Air Force students, it benefits Coast Guard members as well. 

"During the course, we had the opportunity to pass on what we've learned in the Air Force and how senior NCOs interact and help manage the enlisted force," said Sergeant King. "In the coast guard, the focus is on more of a team mentality and on how you want to accomplish things." 

As the Air Force continues working with joint services in joint environments, it's classes like the Coast Guard Academy that help strengthen the ties and relationships across the military. 

The Coast guard is the oldest sea-faring U.S. service. They guard 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline, do drug interdiction, maritime safety and a plethora of other missions with just 37,000 active and 8,000 reserve members.