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Top III Shadow program provides mentoring opportunity

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Developing and mentoring Airmen is a daily challenge. Add in the extra responsibilities that deployed locations pose and the opportunities for developing and mentoring can become scarce. The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's Top III Council has an ongoing program here to ensure that developing and mentoring Airmen is a top priority.

The Top III Shadow Program allows Airmen to shadow a senior noncommissioned officer in a career field that is not their own to get a better understanding of other wing missions.

"This is an opportunity to educate Airmen on a SNCO's daily life," said Master Sgt. Robert Murdock, Top III Shadow Program coordinator deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. "For a SNCO this can be a great opportunity to mentor and interact with Airmen who they may not have had the chance to influence from a different career field."

The program, which was implemented years before, is a Top III success. This year alone 11 deployed Airmen have used the program to broaden their Air Force mission knowledge.

Recently, Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cully, a firefighter with the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, used the program to achieve a better understanding of Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Sergeant Cully, an Air National Guardsman with the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Ind., had been looking at cross training into EOD for some time and thought the shadow program would be a great opportunity to see an Air Force EOD in action.

"I decided on EOD because it's a new challenge," said Sergeant Cully, an Ohio native. "EOD has a different mentality; everyone wants to be there, and anytime you want out you can leave. It's something that makes special ops bind so tight and work successfully in the chaotic jobs they do. You see that in the fire service, too."

On his shadow day, Sergeant Cully met up with Master Sgt. Edward Nickel, the flight chief for the 386th ECES EOD here, and the rest of the EOD shop to really get the chance to walk in the shoes of an EOD member.

"It's always best to get the entire team involved when you have someone seriously interested in cross training," said Sergeant Nickel. "Each tech on the team has their own opinion and experiences in the career field that could possibly help a candidate."

Sergeant Nickel and the EOD crew packed as much hands-on training in the short amount of time allotted. Because of mission and time constraints, Sergeant Cully was only able to spend half a day with the EOD team. The day included taking part of the modified physically fitness assessment EOD members must complete as well as using the tools of the EOD trade.

"We really wanted Sergeant Cully to get a better understanding of the actual training and work that goes into being an EOD tech," said Sergeant Nickel, an Air National Guardsman deployed from the 177th Fighter Wing in New Jersey. "This is a very serious job and therefore is not for those just looking for a new career. This is truly a lifestyle and to make it you must have a deep desire to perform the wide range of tasks that we do."

After the fitness assessment, Sergeant Cully was able to put on the bomb suit and perform different activities to test his concentration, stamina and observational skills, all attributes required in the EOD career field.

"I was like a kid in a candy store," said Sergeant Cully. "EOD uses some amazing equipment; just being able to see and handle the equipment was great for me."

While in the bomb suit, Sergeant Cully performed different activities focusing on maneuverability and the ability to pay attention to detail. It was the time spent out of the bomb suit, talking about the training, daily life and future career path that made the biggest impact on the firefighter.

"The one thing that stood out to me is how little EOD works with their service during deployments," said Sergeant Cully. "They deploy mainly with combat Army and Marine units. They follow their missions until they get to the device, then it's EOD time. If they are kicking in doors or rucking 10K to a location so is EOD."

Though the day was short, Sergeant Cully wouldn't trade the experience.

"I would have liked to have had more time talking with the group," he said. "Half a day just does not give you the time to do much more then hit the high points and roll out. The short amount of time I spent was extremely beneficial for me and I appreciate the program."

Rock NCOs and Airmen wishing to participate in the shadow program should get approval from their leadership and then contact Sergeant Murdock.