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Test Center champions professional development summit

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Christine Saunders
  • Air Force Test Center
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

Air Force Test Center hosted a virtual Enlisted Professional Development Summit May 17 – 19, 2021. The three day event connected Test Airmen across the AFTC enterprise spanning from Arnold Engineering Development Complex at Arnold AFB, Tennessee, the 96th Test Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida, and the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, California. 

The first day kicked off with a Commander’s perspective briefing by AFTC Commander Maj. Gen. Christopher Azzano.

“A lot of you are wearing the TEST patch on your sleeves because the mission is important,” Azzano said. “It’s exciting, and we’re proud of it. We need you as enlisted leaders to be champions for the Test mission, so when you leave the Air Force Test Center, you go with the knowledge of what the Test mission does; raising the understanding of why our mission is so important.”

During the summit, AFTC Command Chief Master Sgt. Brian Stafford reiterated the core mission of AFTC throughout: develop, test, and evaluate Air, Space, and Cyberspace systems to deliver war-winning capabilities.

“This is an opportunity to invest in you, to give you more information to make you a better Airmen, and a better leader,” Stafford said.

Day one focused on strategic messaging for Test. Day two targeted personal development across all enlisted tiers to include emotional intelligence, leadership philosophy and taking care of Airmen.

“We all need to have a basic understanding of why we exist and what our installation functions are,” said Stafford.

Day three focused on professional development, to include the Enlisted Force Distribution Process and Stratification, feedback and getting board ready. The keynote speakers included the command chief for Air Force Materiel Command, Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Cadell.

“The weapon systems that you are a part of testing, developing and getting ready for today, are going to be what’s being utilized in the future,” said Cadell. “AFMC is the foundational command in the Air Force, because everything we do, we do for someone else.”

The event was hosted by a core team of senior non-commissioned officers from within AFTC and was opened up to all enlisted Airmen and career fields. Feedback was collected at the end of each day.

Over 160 AFTC Airmen from Arnold, Eglin, and Edwards AFB tuned in to learn more about Test and its strategic importance to National defense.

Edwards provides care, opportunities for children aged six weeks through high school graduation

Edwards provides care, opportunities for childrenaged six weeks through high school graduation

The Child and Youth Program at Edwards AFB provides care and opportunities for kids ages six weeks old through high school graduation. A brief summary of those services follows:

  •                    The Child Development Center cares for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a DOD-wide curriculum. The curriculum is focused on learning through play activities supporting social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Installations across DOD follow the curriculum on the same timeline to allow seamless permanent change-of-station transitions for youth enrolled in care.
  •                    The School Age Center provides before and after-school care and summer camp for children ages 5 to 12. During school breaks, full-day camps are offered. SAC promotes cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language and physical development through programs that encourage self-confidence, curiosity, self-discipline and resiliency.
  •                    The open recreation program at the Main Youth Center provides a safe space for ages 9 to 12 to attend after school. Programs include Power Hour, STEM, Torch Club, social recreation, youth camps, special events and more.
  •                    The youth sports program provides intro and league opportunities for ages 3 to 12, and promotes inclusiveness, self-discipline, commitment, resiliency and social skills. There are four sports offered annually for ages five to 12: baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Smart start programs are available to ages 3 to 5. There are many other sports and camps offered throughout the year.
  •                    The Teen Center is available for ages 13 to 18 during the school year. Programs offered include Military Youth of the Year, Keystone Club, social recreation, STEM activities, college trips, leadership camps and more.
  •                    Youth programs (SAC, open rec and teen) are affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 4-H.
  •                    Family Child Care homes – there are currently three FCC homes on the installation. They can provide care for ages two weeks to 12 years. FCC providers are trained by Child and Youth Program training and curriculum specialists and have the flexibility to determine their hours of operation and the ages of youth within their care. The program’s new dedicated manager, Jennifer Stegmann, may be reached at 661-275-7529.

Although CDC enrollment capacity is 317, not all slots are currently filled because of a shortage of childcare workers. School Age Center enrollment capacity is 156. After-school care enrollment is 130. Before-school care enrollment is 75. Summer Camp 2022 was at its capacity and enrollment for Summer Camp 2023 opens April 3.