ARPC hosts Air Reserve Component field training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katrina M. Brisbin
About 50 Guard and Reserve members gathered at Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center for an Air Reserve Component Field Orientation Course Nov. 7, 2018.

This course leverages the expertise of ARPC subject matter experts and covers a wide variety of topics to include point credit, retirements, awards and decorations, promotions, evaluations, entitlements and more.

“We want to provide a different perspective of what we do here,” said Chief Master Sgt. Sandra Ahern, ARPC Personnel and Services superintendent. “We also want to communicate that we are a united front. We are collectively working together to provide support and ensure that the Guard and Reserve Force Support Squadrons and our 1.3 million customers are taken care of to the best of our abilities.”

Attendees represented 30 commander support staff and force support units across the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. The ARC field orientation was created as an open forum for members to discuss the various challenges and successes they are experiencing out in the field. This forum also provided a way for attendees to get one-on-one assistance for specific cases.

“Having the opportunity to come here gives our members the chance to ask questions and receive vital hands on training,” said Lt. Col. Victor Marcelle, 189th Force Support Squadron commander, Arkansas Air National Guard. “This has been a huge benefit for us and has allowed us to reduce our enlisted and officer performance report overdue time down to 6 percent for our entire wing.”

The quarterly, unit-funded course also aims to foster cooperation between ARPC and members in the field. It focuses on various changes in processes that have been made and what members in the field can do to help spread the word.

Members interested in attending ARC field training should check www.arpc.afrc.af.mil. Courses are posted at the beginning of the calendar year. Class size is limited to 70 and is available on a first-come first-served basis.