KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 18th Wing welcomed current and newly selected U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeants to a three-day NCO induction seminar, Nov. 24–26, at the Kadena Air Base Professional Military Education Center.
Hosted by 18th Wing ⅚ private organizations, the course is designed to equip emerging leaders with the tools, mindset, and professional standards required to excel as frontline supervisors.
One of the biggest changes in one’s military career is the jump from Airman to NCO. For the first time, one’s responsibilities, privileges, daily workload, and even workplace relationships change at this level.
The seminar serves as a bridge between promotion and performance, addressing what senior enlisted leaders often describe as the “frozen middle,” the point where technical expertise must evolve into deliberate leadership.
“Our NCOs are the closest to the action with those who make the mission happen - the Airmen,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Cullen, 67th Fighter Generation Squadron sortie support superintendent. “Our military’s NCO corps is stronger than our adversaries’, and that gives us a strategic leg up.”
Participants engaged in hands-on learning, senior leader panels, and scenario-based discussions aimed at reinforcing the responsibilities, authority, and expectations of the NCO corps.
“It’s important for those of us in the upper enlisted ranks to make a deliberate effort to stay connected and help grow the next crop of NCOs,” said Cullen. “If you don’t share what you’ve learned, those lessons walk out the door with you.”
Participants also had the opportunity to engage directly with SELs from across the 18th Wing, gaining insight into real-world challenges and expectations in a high-tempo operational environment. Team-based exercises encouraged collaboration across Air Force specialty codes, while guided discussions highlighted leadership successes, failures, and the impact NCOs have on mission readiness.
“It’s refreshing to hear their mindset,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Maria Abigail Noble, 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron cyber operations technician, “As U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Cupp, 18th Wing command chief, said, The Air Force is always changing.”
“Some people adjust more easily than others, but change is good and hearing from those who’ve lived through it helps you understand why.”
The seminar concluded with a formal induction ceremony honoring the Airmen’s transition into the NCO tier: a milestone marking their new role as mentors and supervisors for the Air Force.
The 18th Wing’s NCO Induction Seminar continues to support the wing’s commitment to cultivating confident, competent, and mission-ready leaders who are ready to inspire and develop the next generation of Airmen.