RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- As U.S. Space Forces in Europe – Space Forces Africa builds its mission across two continents, the space component leadership is committed to empowering their enlisted cadre, who recently completed the first module of the SPACEFOREUR-AF Guardian and Airmen Professional Development Program.
Abbreviated as GAD-P, the program develops skill sets that contribute to faster, more efficient administrative processes. For the classes that concluded on Oct. 30, the focus was on evaluation writing and the new enlisted performance board (EPB) procedures.
“The training went great,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Marissa Strickland, senior enlisted leader for SPACEFOREUR-AF’s Intelligence Directorate. “Our organization relies on both Guardians and Airmen to support us. The GAD-P program is a way in which we can support them and contribute to improving the quality and direction of their careers.”
Strickland said the GAD-P recognizes that the U.S. Space Force mission requires its enlisted personnel to have awareness of the mission-command imperatives that require first and second-level supervisors to be ready to lead while also tracking their own career growth. The focus for this quarter was the EPB and how the feedback process works.
“We want our enlisted to be ready for the evaluation season, which we’re now in,” said Strickland. “The enlisted are truly the backbone of the force and, after this training, many class participants have expressed improved confidence in their ability to navigate the EPB process.”
Strickland added that, because many on the team are also Air Force reservists augmenting the SPACEFOREUR-AF mission, the EPB evaluation training offered an advantage as AFRES evaluation performance reports are biennial – taking place every other year.
“We want our Guardians and Airmen to be experts in professional writing which builds trust in our NCO Corps to provide clear communication,” said Chief Master Sgt. Alex Birkle, SPACEFOREUR-AF Command Senior Enlisted Leader. “Good, honest, and consistent feedback is how we change our career trajectories, build experts in our warfighting profession, and gain advantage in our domain.”
Birkle added that he’s advocated for stronger feedback processes for U.S. Space Force Guardians and assigned Airmen since his previous assignment to Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., when he was the senior enlisted leader for Space Delta Three.
“Our enlisted cadre has to be empowered to fill leadership roles within our mission,” Birkle said. “Our operating environment is dynamic and the capabilities we need to work in the environment are demanding. GAD-P represents an investment in the force, so our Guardians and Airmen have confidence and pride in knowing how to anticipate what’s needed for their career progression. With effective quarterly development classes, the only direction a Space Force enlistee’s career can go is up.”