Chief talks new enlisted professional military education

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Miller
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  During her most recent visit to Dyess, Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne Bass, chief of enlisted developmental education, spoke to enlisted Airmen, noncommissioned officers and senior noncommissioned officers about the new, major changes to the enlisted military education program called the Enlisted Professional Military Education for the 21st Century, or “EPME 21.”

EPME 21 is a new program which allows Airman Leadership School, the NCO and senior NCO academy to be 100 percent in-residence. This change gives all Airmen, active duty, guard and reserve, the opportunity to attend.

“These changes are a result of the 2017 EPME triennial review,” said Bass. “The committee determined these changes were necessary to the existing EPME structure in order to align EPME with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s policy requiring rank-based educational opportunities. This also gives all Airmen a chance to attend resident EPME in order to truly grasp the educational experiences gained from their peers and instructors.”

Instead of requiring Airmen to complete their EPME at a set time based upon their time in service, the new model transitions to a new rank-based continuum of learning. This model offers Airmen more time and flexibility to focus more on the mission.

“This new EPME structure allows Airmen to decide when it’s best for them to complete their distance learning,” said Bass. “They will have to complete the distance learning prior to their in-resident portion, however, they now have more say in when the time is right for them.”
Resident EPME is still a promotion requirement. Airman Leadership School, the NCO and senior NCO academy are still required for promotion to E-5, E-7 and E-9.

“I think this change will make for less stress in our Airmen,” said Senior Master Sgt. Darryl Dew, 7th Force Support Squadron military personnel flight superintendent. “They will now have more time to concentrate on learning their jobs and their job performance while having more time to complete their EPME.”

For Airmen who completed the NCO or SNCO distance learning course prior to the new EPME 21 changes, they will still receive credit.
For those who are currently enrolled, they may receive credit upon completion. Or, if necessary, they may withdraw completely and reenroll at a later date without any consequences, prior to their attendance of in-resident EPME. During this change in EPME, Airmen are highly encouraged to check their MyPers message for details concerning their own, personal requirements.

Furthermore, working groups are being established to start discussing the new Professional Development Unit, the requirements and future implementation. Each PDU will equate to one hour of learning. Examples of PDU include: major command courses, joint courses, NCO/SNCO PES and other development opportunities.
Bass ended the briefing by allowing Airmen to ask any questions or address concerns they may have.

“I like these new changes,” said Staff Sgt. Desirae Faasavalu, noncommissioned officer in charge of promotions and decorations. “This gives Airmen the opportunity to really focus on bettering themselves.”