Formal training conducts EPME Town Hall

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Todd Wivell
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  "I have 12 years of military service, am currently a technical sergeant and have not enrolled in course-15 yet, what are my options?," was one of the many questions Team McChord NCOs and senior NCOs received answers to during an Enlisted Professional Military Education Town Hall at the McChord Theater, Feb. 19.
    
More than 200 Airmen, enlisted and officers, attended one of two town halls in which the three phases of EPME were discussed.
    
"The reason we are here today is make sure we are giving you, the Airman, the information as soon as we get it," said Chief Master Sgt. Gordon Drake, 62nd Airlift Wing command chief. "We want you to know what you need to do to continue your career progression, while at the same time getting all of your questions answered while you are here.
    
"Remember, everything we are telling you can be found online using the many tools the Air Force has to offer. It is incumbent for all of you to go out there and read up on this and understand what you need to do."
    
The town hall was given by the 62nd AW formal training section and was brief by Mr. Eli Yamzon, 62nd AW formal training technician, who explained the three different phases.
    
The first phase is Airman Leadership School and in order for a member to attend that they must meet all EPME requirements at the three-to-six year time in service window. The Airmen are selected locally by the ALS staff and must complete and pass this to be eligible to enroll in the second phase of EPME.
    
The second phase is broken up into two sections, distance learning and in-residence learning, also known as the Intermediate Leadership Experience.
    
In order to participate in the distance learning course, also known as Course 15, Airmen must be between seven and 12 years of time in service and must be in the rank of staff or technical sergeant. Senior Airmen are not eligible to enroll and all Airmen will be notified by the Air Force Personnel Center of their eligibility to enroll in this program.
    
However, members who are already within the time in service window of eligibility are required to enroll without notification from AFPC.
    
Any member completing Course 15 is considered PME complete.
    
In order to attend the comprehensive EPME opportunity, known as in-residence or ILE, Airmen must be between eight and 12 years of service and must be in the rank of staff or technical sergeant. The selection process is controlled by AFPC and is based on time in service. Completion of Course 15 is also a prerequisite to attend this course.
    
The one thing that Yamzon stressed was the fact that according to Air Force Instruction 36-2301, "Failure to enroll, complete and pass Phase 2 (Course 15) within one year of enrollment renders Airmen ineligible to reenlist and compete for promotion until this requirement is met."
    
This caused a lot of questions amongst the crowd and according to Yamzon at this time AFPC has no coding mechanisms in place to code a member who has not met this requirement but said it could happen any day.
    
The third and final phase is also broken up into two sections, distance learning and in-residence learning, also known as the Advanced Leadership Experience.
    
In order to participate in the distance learning course, also known as Course 14 version six, Airmen must be between 12 and 18 years of time in service and must be in the rank of master sergeant or have a line number for master sergeant. Technical sergeants without a line number are not eligible to enroll and all Airmen will be notified by the Air Force Personnel Center of their eligibility to enroll in this program.
    
However, members who are already within the time in service window of eligibility are required to enroll without notification from AFPC.
    
Any member completing Course 14 versions five or six is considered PME complete. Course 14 version five is no longer offered but any member who has completed it is considered PME complete.
    
In order to attend the comprehensive EPME opportunity, known as in-residence or ALE, Airmen must be between 13 and 18 years of service and must be in the rank of master sergeant. The selection process is controlled by AFPC and is based on time in service. Completion of Course 14 version six is also a prerequisite to attend this course.
    
Again, Yamzon stressed the fact that according to Air Force Instruction 36-2301, "Failure to enroll, complete and pass Phase 3 (Course 14 version six) within one year of enrollment renders Airmen ineligible to reenlist and compete for promotion until this requirement is met."
    
He also stated that selection into the in-residence course was AFPC controlled and that local leadership had no control to who gets selected to attend.
    
He once again said that at this time AFPC has no coding mechanisms in place to code a member who has not met this requirement but said it could happen any day.
    
After the briefing was over, Yamzon and a group of subject matter experts took to the stage to answer questions from Airmen.
    
Questions ranged from one end of the spectrum to the other and the experts took their time answering each and every question.
    
As the town halls came to a close and Airmen got their questions answered, the 62nd Airlift Wing command chief reminded everyone that it is their responsibility to stay on top of their career progression and EPME.
    
"EPME is not a choice or an option, it is a must and in order to progress through the ranks you must complete these phases," said Drake. "The only way to ensure you are competing for rank amongst your peers is to ensure you have completed all of these EPME courses when it is your right time."
    
For more information on the three phases of EPME or formal training questions, contact Mr. Eli Yamzon or any other 62nd Airlift Wing formal training technician at 253-982-1112.