(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evan J. Lichtenhan). (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Josh W. Strickland), Staff Sgt. Jan. 18, 2022 SECAF surprises 17th Training Wing Airman with SLECP selection Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall surprised a 17th Civil Engineer Squadron Airman with the news he was selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program. Theodore Banta, NCO in charge of the 5 Communications Squadron Mission Defense Team, with being selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP) on December 30, 2021 at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. SLECP is a commissioning program which enables senior leaders to directly select enlisted members to commission through Officer Training School who are highly talented and exhibit exceptional performance. The way I found out was also a surprise, said McWilliams. William Willmann, an electrical and environmental aircraft technician assigned to the 8th Maintenance Squadron, began his career with the Air Force when he enlisted in 2012, and has launched and caught heavy aircraft and conducted fighter jet phase inspections, ever since. Alyssa Cunha, a defense paralegal assigned to the Air Force Legal Operations Agency at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, reacts to a phone call with great news February 27, 2020. They say pressure creates diamonds, said McKinley. Air Force Staff Sgt. The SLECP holds no board or application for selection, however during each cycle of selection the competition is extremely stiff with only one Airman being selected from each U.S. Air Force major command. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexander Nottingham), Master Sgt. Its been awhile, I havent heard anything. The SLECP-A program allows designated Air and Space Force senior leaders to directly select exceptionally performing, highly talented enlisted Airmen for commissioning through Officer Training School. Ryan Bell), Master Sgt. She wants to represent leadership well like it has been represented to her thus far. On what seemed to be a normal Thursday morning, this defense paralegal wasnt expecting to hear Please hold for the Secretary of the Air Force, during a daily brief of her workload for the day. It is just terrific to see someone who put in so much hard work and do so many great things, to have it pay off in such an amazing way.. 244 0 obj <>stream He hopes his career will lead him to become a pilot for the C-17 Globemaster III, and that he can have a lasting impact on the Airmen he serves with, just as his leaders impacted him as a young Airman, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. 2. hb```6.Ad`0p,|8d N&U)`Tfg&j sy3h*\ q , \/ She was accepted into the SOAR program first and thought this would be the route she would take. (U.S. Air Force Courtesy Photo). Sgt. The SecAF had one more task to add to her list: become an officer. Cunha says the leaders that were above her throughout her Air Force career inspired her to pursue being an officer. If you look at his entire career, there hasnt been a year where he has let his foot off the gas.. Whats next? He recollected his thoughts from a conversation he had with Lt. Col. Haley. An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. I have a great support structure, I have some of the best Airmen I can ask for and more mentors than I probably should have. Adversity grows you so much, its kind of surreal, but I know that Im ready. Forces Squadron operations and training superinten- He is headed right back to the maintenance career field, only now, as an officer. As far as I know there isnt a centralized application website or process. Willmann is set to head to Officer Training School in late spring, then to his follow-on assignment to Yokota Air Base, Japan. Bryan Bleck, left, now U.S. Space Force 2nd Lieutenant, right, was selected to commission into the Space Force through the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program. Enlisted members who are picked demonstrate exceptional leadership talent and are incredibly talented in their area of specialties. Stephaun McKinley, 791st Missile Security Each MAJCOM is allowed to select one candidate each for a direct slot into SLECPSSgt Willmann is the 8th Fighter Wing and PACAFs one. 0 On Sept. 26, 2022 a senior enlisted Airman from the 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, was chosen to join the ranks of the Air Force's commissioned officers. %%EOF Staff Sgt. An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. The difference usually came down to whether they could swallow their pride and learn from other cadets in the program that were younger and less experienced than them or not. "Congratulations to him on his SLECP-A selection! I knew William was highly competitive, because I have helped a lot of my Airmen over the last three years as a commander get into various commissioning programs said Haley. This has been a dream of ours for quite some time, and we are thrilled to embark on the next journey together.. see less SLECP is a commissioning program, which enables designated Air Force senior leaders to directly select enlisted members to commission through OTS who are highly talented and exhibit exceptional performance. Airmen or Guardians chosen for SLECP-O are given the opportunity to thrive in a learning environment, and ultimately earn their commission. SLECP is a commissioning program which enables designated Air Force senior leaders to directly select enlisted members to commission through officer training school who are highly talented and exhibit exceptional performance. This is a forum dedicated to the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP) of the U.S. Air Force. The program offers two options: SLECP-A, for enlisted members to pursue their degree while on active duty status, and SLECP-O, for Airmen who have already acquired their bachelor's degree to directly commission. Its nerve racking but super exciting for me and I cant wait to see what this next chapter in my Air Force career looks like., An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Program participants are required to complete a degree within three years before attending Officer Training School to earn their commission. dent, stands at a podium in the security forces guard- (Courtesy photo). There are a great number of factors that contribute to the success of commissioning new officers from the official paperwork to the leadership experience but sometimes the presence of one . of the Air Force Joanne S. Bass, and my jaw dropped. McKinley was selected to commission under the Programs like SLECP, Airman Scholarship & Commissioning Program (ASCP) and Officer Training School (OTS) are awesome for our young Airmen and NCOs to cross over to the officer side of the house, said Lt. Col. Christopher Haley, 8th Maintenance Squadron commander. In early 2022, McWilliams put his journalism skills to work by writing an article, A day in the life: Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force visits Robins. SLECP allows designated Air Force and Space Force senior leaders to directly select exceptionally performing, highly talented enlisted Airmen and Guardians for commissioning through officer training school. I really want to thank all of my supervisors for believing in and encouraging me.. Jon Stevens March 4, 2022 8:36 am - Updated March 15, 2022 11:13 am. Williams records, grades, and personal character were all rock-star strong.. "I'm truly honored and humbled that I was a selectee," said Banta on the phone to CMSGT Melvina Smith, AFGSC command chief. Staff Sgt. "I look forward to seeing you as a second lieutenant and [I'm] looking forward to working with you in the future," said Cotton. Willmann fell into the SLECP-O category, as a result of his bachelors degree he earned from University of North Texas in 2011. Hes more than qualified, and Im very excited to see the perspective he will be bringing.. SLECP is a commissioning program, which enables designated Air Force senior leaders to directly select enlisted members to commission through OTS who are highly talented and exhibit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Im most excited for the opportunities to follow this because its completely unknown, said Cunha. Sgt. SSgt Banta, among the thousands of enlisted Airmen from over the multiple AFGSC bases, was the only one selected for the SLECP. The SLECP-A is a highly competitive enlisted commissioning program that allows designated senior leaders to select and fast-track enlisted Airmen for commissioning through Officer Training School. I was surprised and totally not expecting it at all, McWilliams said. Leaders Encouraging Airman Development Commanders may endorse highly qualified Airmen (17-22 years of age) for appointment to the Air Force Academy. The member retains all active duty pay and benefits at their current rank and their only duty is to go to school. The third time turned out to be the charm. McKinley said his inspiration to commission sprung from memories of his first base. (U.S. Air Jeremy Waters, 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron, pose inside the E-3 Sentry aircraft after being selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program - Active Duty Scholarship at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Dec. 13, 2016. "It's a late Christmas present and hopefully a great New Year's present, congratulations.". SSgt Banta has been a tremendous leader and member of the 5th Communications Squadron," said Lt. Col. Macey Bozarth, 5 CS commander. One of the best parts about being a supervisor is seeing your troops get selected for awards or being recognized at a higher level, said Maj. Nicholas Mahanic, Air Force Legal Operations Agency area defense counsel. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Williams will attend officer training school and become a logistics readiness officer. The Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP) allows designated Air Force Senior Leaders to directly select exceptionally performing-highly talented enlisted members for commissioning throgh Officer Training School (OTS). He said he struggled as a young Airman, but everything changed when new leadership came into his squadron. Upon graduation, they will attend Officer Training School and commission as a second lieutenant. Im going to be a sponge. Bass later gave a celebratory tweet regarding McWilliams and another Airmans selection for OTS. Staff Sgt. February 15th, DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled, Version: 378719a7422dbf16a653a31d0524fb9a2058ed47_2023-04-20T10:09:12. noncommissioned officer with the 78th Comptroller Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force selects Robins Airman for Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program, Strategic The noticeable difference between the two paths within the SLECP is while on SLECP-A, an enlisted member will pursue achieving their degree full time while remaining on active duty status; and while on SLECP-O, the Airmen already possess their bachelors degree enabling them to directly enter OTS. He is always professional with his communication, and his work ethic is phenomenal, said Master Sgt. Theodore Banta has been chosen for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program, a prestigious program that allows enlisted members to commission through Officer Training School. "Tech. Although Willmanns enlisted career consisted of electrical and environmental aircraft maintenance, his career progression is set to change, due to his selection for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program. After graduation, the Airman attends OTS to earn their commission. The SLECP is a commissioning program that empowers members of senior leadership to handpick enlisted members for commissioning through Officer Training School. CSAF selects Luke Airman for SLECP-A. But then, the SLECP program was brought to my attention, which gave me the opportunity to go for it.. The SLECP is a commissioning program that empowers members of senior leadership to handpick enlisted members for commissioning through Officer Training School. inspired him to become a commissioned officer at General Information:The SLECP - A provides a mechanism for designated Air Force senior leaders to direct-select exceptional performing enlisted Airmen for commissioning. Detachment 765, staffed by both officers and enlisted members, is very proud of the leaders they are able to shape and create year in and year out. I couldnt believe it. My family and I are ecstatic! said Williams. Theodore Banta, NCO in charge of the 5 Communication Squadron Mission Defense Team, gets informed that he is selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP) by Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, on December 30, 2021, at Minot Air Force Base North Dakota. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Sgt. She told me I was selected for Officer Training School. I could barely keep the emotions at bay, sitting there with all my leaders in the room, said McKinley. "He has his ducks in a row and regardless of whether he's a staff sergeant Banta, lieutenant Banta, lieutenant colonel Banta or general Banta. My leadership knew that I only had a short period of time to get my paperwork together, so I really had to bust my rump, so that I wouldnt let this opportunity pass me by, said Willmann. Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP) SLECP allows designated Air Force and Space Force senior leaders to directly select exceptionally performing, highly talented enlisted Airmen and Guardians for commissioning through OTS. The SLECP is a commissioning program that empowers members of senior leadership to handpick enlisted members for commissioning through Officer Training School. He did. AFROTC.info is an unofficial website. read more, Photo By Rodney Speed | Staff Sgt. I looked over and it was Chief Master Sgt. SLECP is an Air Force program designed to provide the opportunity for senior leaders to select exceptional members from the enlisted tier to attend an accredited college while on active duty status. under the Senior Enlisted Commissioning Program. %PDF-1.5 % The story recounted the time he spent with Bass during her visit to Robins back in April. By Airman First Class Aliviah Williams Plan. Prior or currently enlisted cadets were either some of the best cadets I ever had, or the worst. Congratulations Tech. Williams looks forward to bringing a unique perspective to the training environment, developing and honing his skills, and participating in organized physical training again. 213 0 obj <> endobj Although there is no boarding process or application needed for SLECP, make no mistake in assuming that its a cake walk, said 8th Fighter Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Prior U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Sgt. It provides selectees a scholarship to the university of their choice to finish an undergraduate degree and then attend OTS after graduation. Force photo by Master Sgt. He serves as the liaison between the commander, first sergeant and director, providing direct administrative support for the 78th CPTS and Wing Staff Agencies. Although Willmann counted himself out, Lt. Col. Haley had a trick up his sleeve. Master Sgt. Starkovich has served in the Air Force for 13 years. I think he's got a great head on his shoulders and I think he's going to lead well as a commissioned officer in our Air Force," said Col. Michael Walters, 5th Bomb Wing Commander, to Cotton on the phone. SSgt Banta was selected for the SLECP-A program, he will be pursuing his bachelors and will be finishing in less than a year. SLECP is a commissioning program which enables senior leaders to directly select enlisted members to commission through Officer Training School who are highly talented and exhibit exceptional performance. Leaders from around the base are already taking me under their wing and really trying to mentally prepare me for whats to come.. Cookie Notice His humble leadership and sustained superior-performance are qualities that led to Williams selection, said Chumaceiro. Stephaun McKinley, 791st Missile Security Christopher Williams, 50th Comptroller Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of financial analysis, is selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program Officer Training School Nov. 8, 2022. Terrell McWilliams, noncommissioned officer with the 78th Comptroller Squadron Commander Support Staff, who was recently selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program, stands in front of the 78th Air Base Wing headquarters building at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 14, 2022. Staff Sgt. SLECP will be comprised of two components--a degree and non-degree program--and will be implemented annually. The SLECP-O allows senior Air Force leaders to directly select outstanding enlisted Airmen for commissioning through OTS. I want to be an officer because I believe I have the traits that an effective leader in the Air Force needs to motivate Airmen and manifest mission success, said Willmann. We wish him best of luck as he goes on to be an officer in the USAF.. Airmen must complete all degree requirements within status years. The program also provides a two-track opportunity; one for enlisted members to pursue their degree while on active duty status (SLECP-A), as well as Airmen who have already acquired their degree to directly commission through OTS (SLECP-O). This work, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force selects Robins Airman for Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program, by Kisha Johnson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. The SLECP holds no board or application for selection, however during each cycle of selection the competition is extremely stiff with only one Airman being selected from each U.S. Air Force Major Command. The Yemassee, South Carolina, native has both a bachelors and a masters degree in Journalism. Command Senior Enlisted Leaders (CSELs) ensure and enhance naval warfighting readiness by providing leadership and mentorship to the Navy and advice to commanders and COs in partnership with deputy commanders, chiefs of staff, or executive officers (XO). dent, discusses how an early experience in his career until 0400 est. The SLECP is a commissioning program that empowers members of senior leadership to handpick enlisted members for commissioning through Officer Training School. Commissioning has always been on my mind said Willmann. The POC-ERP program program allows enlisted members with 2 or less years of school left to separate from active duty and join AFROTC with an out-of-cycle EA, then attend Field Training between their AS300 and AS400 years. He says that shaped him into becoming a senior NCO, and helped him to commission. According to Arnold, Bleck was personally selected by Gen. John "Jay" Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, through the program. So, to succeed as an enlisted member in AFROTC: Professional Officer Course Early Release Program (POC-ERP), Airman Scholarship & Commissioning Program (ASCP), Scholarships for Outstanding Airmen to Reserve Officer Training Corps (SOAR), Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program A (SLECP-A), Leaders Encouraging Airman Development (LEAD), Advice for prior or currently enlisted cadets, Details on how to apply for this program are here, Details of this program can be found here. McKinley is one of sixteen award recipients in Air Force Global Strike Command to earn an officer position through the Air Force Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program. Then McWilliams heard a voice from the large monitor in the room. SLECP-O grants designated Air Force and Space Force senior leaders the ability to directly choose an exceptionally performing Airman or Guardian to commission through OTS. Im really going to learn from the officers around me.. Staff Sgt. They help me to grow and continue to grow into the best person I can be.". Bleck, who earned his commission through Officer Training School, was selected into the Space Force through a highly competitive and non-traditional commissioning process - the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. by Chief Master Sgt. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evan J. Lichtenhan), Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, informs Staff Sgt. Now that I have this opportunity, it all makes sense.. After OTS, McWilliams is hopeful an opportunity will open for him to work in Air Force Public Affairs. Terrell McWilliams, noncommissioned officer with the 78th Comptroller Ask your supervisor and leadership team on how to apply. Updated: Dec 30, 2021 / 04:26 PM CST. Seth Taylor, 1st SOPS cyber transport systems technician, left, both of Space Delta 9 units, were selected for the Senior Enlisted Leader Commissioning Program. Staff Sgt. Jasmonet D. Jackson) For more information on commissioning in the Air Force contact your base education office or visit https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join/process/enlisted-to-officer, An official website of the United States government, https://www.airforce.com/how-to-join/process/enlisted-to-officer, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Brandon Steele, 3rd Space Operations Squadron mission planner, right, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tesha Martin, 78th CPTS and WSA senior enlisted leader. Privacy Policy. On Nov. 22, NASIC leadership informed Lepinski she has been selected for the Senior Enlisted Commissioning Program, allowing her to study full-time, earn her degree, and then enter Officer Training School to receive her commission. I am capable of adapting to those ever-changing situations and making reasonable decisions in the face of adversity.. Matthew Chumaceiro, 21st CPTS flight commander. Upon completion of their bachelors degree, the member will attend OTS and commission from there. Im going to work towards putting my package in for the next OTS cycle.. Details on how to apply for this program are here. SLECP is a commissioning program which enables designated Air Force senior leaders to directly select enlisted members to commission through officer training school who are highly talented and exhibit exceptional performance. Gabrielle Lepinski, National Air and Space Intelligence Center analyst, poses for a photo at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Dec. 2, 2022. Its been a blur. Airmen and Guardians must complete all degree requirements within three (3) years and attend an accredited school with an associated funding agreement and/or affiliated crosstown AFROTC (for personnel administrative management purposes only) with a tuition cap of $18,000/year. Theodore Banta, NCO in charge of the 5 Communications Squadron Mission Defense Team, that he is selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP) on December 30, 2021 at Minot Air Force Base North Dakota. U.S. Air Force Tech. I think you're thinking of SLECP-O/A, which is the senior leader enlisted commissioning program, it's not a senior enlisted commissioning program. He remembers how amazing it felt to have leaders that guided and mentored him. Willmanns leadership notified him that his package was chosen over the two other nominees, but his package still had to go to the 7th Air Force and lastly, Pacific Air Forces. Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program A (SLECP-A) SLECP-A selects one enlisted member per MAJCOM (17 globally) to stay on active duty, but to attend a school of their choice as a full-time student. McWilliams was personally selected by Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass to attend Officer Training School as one of a very select few enlisted Airmen across the enterprise to be accepted into the program. McKinley said he is thankful for the supervisors and mentors he has had throughout his career. McWilliams is a strong performer within not just the WSA and 78th CPTS family but within the Air Force. Stephaun McKinley, 791 MSFS operations and training superintendent was one of 16 Airmen selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program. and our Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. I was done with trying, but my leadership encouraged me to apply one more time. On Sept. 26, 2022 a senior enlisted Airman from the 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, was chosen to join the ranks of the Air Forces commissioned officers. Ryan Bell), An official website of the United States government. The SLECP is a commissioning program that empowers members of senior leadership to handpick enlisted members for commissioning through Officer Training School. Active-duty members selected through the SLECP and NECP programs remain on active duty through the duration of the programs. He cares about the military and his Air Force family, and continually seeks self-improvement to become a better all-around person. SLECP is a commissioning program, which enables designated Air Force senior leaders to directly select enlisted members to commission through OTS who are highly talented and exhibit exceptional performance. SLECP allows designated Air Force and Space Force. She stated, Notifying these two leaders of their selection was the best part of my day and always gets my heart pumping! "Each senior leader can set their own selection criteria," said 11th Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. My supervisor, Maj. William Liaw, told me I needed to help inprocess someone, which is a duty I regularly perform. read more I enjoy serving and definitely look forward to putting all of my talents to use, said McWilliams. I went to the conference room thinking I was going to meet the person and instead I saw a room filled with various leaders from the 78th Air Base Wing, he continued. Cunha was selected for SLECP-A. It was a crazy experience. William Willmann, electrical and environmental aircraft technician assigned to the 8th Maintenance Squadron, was selected for the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Master Sergeant Stephaun McKinley , 91st Missile Wing Security Forces, poses in front of an American flag at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Nov. 28, 2022. SLECP-A selects one enlisted member per MAJCOM (17 globally) to stay on active duty, but to attend a school of their choice as a full-time student. Williams will attend officer training school and become a logistics readiness officer. While awaiting to hear about his SLECP-O package, he began to prepare himself for, What if Im not selected for the program? It was such a good experience. Enlisted members accepted into the ASCP will separate from active duty and attend AFROTC for 2 4 years with a Type 2 scholarship. SLECP is an Air Force program designed to provide the opportunity for senior leaders to select exceptional members from the enlisted ranks to attend an accredited college while on. Thats where the spark was when I joined the Air Force, said McKinley. They will compete for an EA, unless they only have two years of school left when accepted into the program, then they will get an out-of-cycle EA. hbbd```b``"g>^"9 adMgH-i$d`( 1 Application details for this program usually come out in the summer each year, and are sent out through the chain of command. Starkovich was chosen for SLECP-O. But to her surprise the Secretary of the Air Force, Barbara Barrett had other plans for her. "I know there are a lot of great applicants out there. The degree earned must qualify for the AFSC classification or the member will be reclassified into a qualifying AFSC. Alyssa Cunha, Air Force Legal Operations Agency defense paralegal, aspired to do more with her Air Force career and began to apply to several commissioning programs throughout the Air Force. Members in this program will administratively report to an AFROTC detachment, but they will not be considered a cadet and will not train with the detachment. Thats when I saw the impact an officer could have on a workforce. The SLECP holds no board or application for selection, however during each cycle of selection the competition is extremely stiff with only one being selected from each U.S. Air Force major command. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. I had applied twice and didnt get accepted, so I took it as a sign that Officer Training School was not for me. SLECP allows designated Air Force and Space Force senior leaders to directly select exceptionally performing, highly talented enlisted Airmen and Guardians for commissioning through OTS. Banta is from the 5th Communications Squadron and was chosen for this opportunity on Thursday. Even with that, I was still looking for the person to inprocess. I feel incredibly fortunate to be selected for this, said Cunha. The look on his face when Wolf gave him a Butter Bar coin to congratulate himpriceless..