{"id":13475,"date":"2018-10-19T19:14:07","date_gmt":"2018-10-19T19:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/10\/19\/air-force-doubles-training-length-for-first-sergeants-scraps-distance-learning\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:17:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:17:55","slug":"air-force-doubles-training-length-for-first-sergeants-scraps-distance-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/10\/19\/air-force-doubles-training-length-for-first-sergeants-scraps-distance-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force doubles training length for first sergeants; scraps distance learning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Air Force said Wednesday it is doubling the length of its resident class at the First Sergeant Academy<\/a> to four weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new curriculum, which will begin Oct. 22, will drop the old distance learning portion of the academy and instead focus on \u201chands-on, scenario-based training to better prepare first sergeants<\/a> for their role in the squadron command team,\u201d according to a release from Air Education and Training Command. The academy is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrior to this new four-week course, two weeks just wasn\u2019t enough time to actually train them correctly,\u201d Chief Master Sgt. Manny Pineiro, the Air Force\u2019s first sergeant<\/a> special duty manager. \u201cWhat we did now is give them an opportunity to get more comfortable and more confident so they can be prepared to get out there and take care of their business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With distance learning dropped, AETC said, first sergeants will have more time to learn skills such as alternate dispute resolution, resiliency and advanced counseling, as well as receiving training on the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Article 15. They will also interact more with former commanders, AETC said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t