PDP gives Airmen career roadmap

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady
  • 480th ISRW/PA

An initiative by the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group at Fort Gordon created a Professional Development Placemats program to outline important milestones for Airmen development.

An Airman's mastery of skills how they lead to new opportunities are part of critical conversations to lead Airmen on the right career path. With this in mind, the PDPs provide 480th ISRG Airmen with the ability to visually map out their career progression from the rank of airman to technical sergeant.

It presents them with options for in-garrison and deployed opportunities, as well as internships and certifications. The PDP also provides supervisors an excellent tool to help Airmen prioritize Air Force, national mission and educational requirements or opportunities.

“Language Analysts make up a large portion of the 480th ISRG workforce and due to the narrow focus of their career fields there are not many opportunities to PCS,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Dustin Dargis, 480th ISRG enlisted functional manager. “It is not uncommon for Airmen to spend over seven years at Fort Gordon before experiencing a change of duty station. For this reason, it is imperative that individuals are offered the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skillset locally. Before implementation of the PDPs, this was conducted sporadically at best.”

Since May 2016 the 480th ISRG identified 80 Airmen for professional development. Some of these developments have been Permanent Change of Assignments while others have moved from Air Force to national mission. In each instance the Airman has been part of the discussion in trying to best match mission needs with individual preferences or goals.

A Functional Management Team was created consisting of Senior Master Sgt. Dustin Dargis and 12 Air Force Specialty Codes specific functional managers spanning the 3rd and 31st Intelligence Squadrons. Together they cover the signals intelligence analyst 1N2X1A/C, cryptologic language analyst 1N3X1F/K/L/M/N and fusion analyst 1N4X1A/B AFSCs.

“Meeting mission priorities and specific training requirements is a delicate balance,” said Dargis. “Training is essential to mission accomplishment. Professional Military Education and Air Force Specialty Code specific training enhances and increase our ability to lead an evolving workforce.”

They have used numerous avenues to implement and advertise the PDP including briefings at commander calls, Newcomer's Orientation, NCO Professional Education, Senior NCO Professional Education and AFSC All Calls.

Recently they have developed a website where their products has been published, allowing Airmen the opportunity to access the PDPs at their leisure. NCOs have also been asked to utilize the PDPs when conducting feedback or officially rendering an Airman Comprehensive Assessment with their Airmen.

“Developing the PDPs was an important step in broadening the lines of communication between peers, supervisors and subordinates,” Dargis added. “They facilitate what really matters which is human interaction, one-on-one communication, open and frank discussions about career or personal goals.”

The PDP were derived from listening to the Airmen of the 480th ISRG who asked for knowledge regarding career opportunities at Fort Gordon. 

“If we fail to properly train and equip our workforce we will fail to accomplish the mission,” said Dargis. “It is imperative that we create opportunities for training and encourage our Airmen to grab these opportunities when able. In most cases, the long term gains of sending our Airmen to training far outweigh the short term impact.”

The feedback from the PDP has been positive with NCOs expressing that they wished they had this product earlier in their careers.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jason Brown, 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing commander, was impressed by this process during his visit of the 480th ISRG and acknowledged its benefits.

“I recommend everyone take a look at the placemats and see how you can incorporate something similar,” said Col. Brown. “Too many of our Airmen feel like they’re pigeonholed and site specific career roadmaps can help overcome that.”