News>Spread the Word briefings educate Air Commandos
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Air Commandos listen attentively during an Air Force Special Operations Command manpower, personnel and services (A1) Spread the Word brief at the Landing Zone at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Sept. 28, 2012. More than 300 Airmen attended the presentation to receive the latest information on personnel programs and address their concerns with AFSOC A1 experts. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Whitney Tucker)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Frank Tomsich, Air Force Special Operations Command manpower, personnel and services (A1) superintendent, educates Air Commandos during a Spread the Word brief at the Landing Zone at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Sept. 28, 2012. More than 300 Airmen attended the presentation to receive the latest information on personnel programs and address their concerns with AFSOC A1 experts. (U.S. photo/Senior Airman Whitney Tucker)
by Senior Airman Whitney Tucker
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
10/1/2012 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Hundreds of Air Commandos flocked to the Landing Zone to receive the latest information on personnel programs during a Spread the Word briefing, Sept. 28, at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.
The briefing, conducted by an Air Force Special Operations Command team including Col. Thomas Marocchini, AFSOC manpower, personnel and services (A1) director, provided a forum in which Airmen could become better educated about up-to-the-minute personnel programs and address their concerns with experts at the top of the AFSOC A1 food chain.
The team covered topics ranging from officer and enlisted assignments, 365-day deployment tours, retraining procedures and professional military education, to developmental education opportunities and promotion.
"Through the focused effort of the briefing teams, we are providing our Airmen a better understanding of what's happening in the manpower, personnel and services community," Marocchini said. "These programs impact Airmen on a daily basis; having a well-informed force benefits not only the individual, but the Air Force as a whole."
At the conclusion of the 60-minute presentation, Marocchini and Chief Master Sgt. Frank Tomsich, AFSOC A1 superintendent, turned the tables on their attentive audience, initiating a brief question and answer session in which Airmen had the opportunity to offer candid feedback and share personal experiences.
Developing and caring for Airmen is one of the Air Force's top priorities. Though the team came to educate Airmen at Cannon about personnel programs that affect them, it is equally important for leadership to hear about issues Airmen experience in order to improve processes and procedures the chief said.
Hundreds of Airmen across the nation have already attended Spread the Word briefings, gaining insight on how Air Force Personnel Center officials are constantly evaluating existing and evolving trends to ensure the Air Force family is properly cared for, developed, trained and equipped for their mission.
"Our goal is to better employ the right Airmen, to the right place, at the right time," Marocchini said. "It is vital that we continue to have open lines of communication with our force - enlisted, officer and civilian - in order to see this vision come to fruition."
