Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      That's Air University-Sight Picture
                        
                        
                        Maj. Alex Barnett, former Air University instructor and current student in the Air Command and Staff College experience, talks about his time teaching in the Squadron Officer School realm and how that shaped him as the incoming commander of the 436th Maintenance Squadron commander at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (U.S. Air Force video)
                
                
                View DVIDS Video

Force generators train future AirmenPublished May 17, 2021
                    
                    By C Arce
                    
                    
                    Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --**To maintain the competitive edge over adversaries, the Air Force must select the best Airmen to train and educate the next generation of Airmen.
“We are targeting the highest performers to become force generators,” said **Chief Master Sgt. Erik Thompson**, **AETC** command chief master sergeant. “In exchange for sending their best to instruct, we will return them to their career field with improved leadership skills, new confidence and so many more key developmental traits that will make them more outstanding Airmen.”
Maj. Alex Barnett, former Squadron Officer School instructor at **Air University**, shared how his experience as an instructor better prepared him to become the incoming commander of the 436th Maintenance Squadron at **Dover Air Force Base**, Delaware.
“As an instructor, I saw 14 new students every cycle, each with their own challenges,” Barnett said. “Managing them all equipped me with the capability to communicate with a variety of Airmen from different AFSCs (Air Force Specialty Codes). Now, when I become a commander, I can use these networking competencies to ensure I can get my Airmen everything they need to do their jobs.”
Not only do force generator positions provide skills and knowledge, promotion averages in the last 10 years have been above average:
-Promotion to chief master sergeant at a rate of 6.3% over the Air Force average.
-Promotion to senior master sergeant at a rate of 4.6% over the Air Force average.
-Promotion to master sergeant at a rate of 8.4% over the Air Force average.
Airmen volunteer for force generator positions, which are developmental special duty assignments. According to the Developmental Special Duty Program Personnel Services Delivery guide, the DSD program develops leaders by requiring that they oversee and mentor multiple Airmen, and that they ensure the well-being of those mentees and their families.
“AETC provides our force generators world-class training that enables them to become strategically-minded, agile and complex problem-solvers,” Thompson said. “These leaders pave the way, modeling the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do.”
Learn more about the DSD program requirements, eligibility and assignment cycles by visiting **here**. (Common Access Card required for access).AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Force Generators 



MTL 



MTI 



Tomorrow’s Air Force 



instructor 



leader 



Air University 



recruiter 



ACOL 



One Air Force

Related Links
        Importance of Air Force Instructors for the future of the force highlighted on new "The Air Force Starts Here" podcast
                                March 23, 2021
                                In the latest episode of "The Air Force Starts Here," Chief Master Sergeant Erik Thompson, AETC command chief, discusses  the importance of  force generators, which are voluntary developmental special duty positions filled by Airmen who help build, teach, and aid Airmen to lead. These positions Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil