AFN Airman earns 'wingman' award

Photo By Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho | U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Vegas Clark, 39th Air Base Wing command chief, commends U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Katie Moeller, American Forces Network Incirlik broadcast producer, for her work in Titan University, March 11, 2016, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Moeller has completed classes such as Little Brown Book…Little Blue Book, Customs and Courtesies, and Social Media and Email Protocol. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho/Released)  

1, TURKEY

03.18.2016

Story by Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho 

39th Air Base Wing

ADANA, Turkey - Members of the Incirlik Top 3, along with Chief Master Sgt. Vegas Clark, 39th Air Base Wing command chief, gathered outside the American Forces Network Incirlik building to surprise an Airman with a Titan University Award, March 11, 2016.

Senior leadership burst onto the set to deliver the good news to all in attendance for the inaugural presentation.

“I have the distinct pleasure to award Airman Moeller the very first wingman level certificate,” said Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Pawlik, 39th Communications Squadron plans and programs flight superintendent.

“It takes extreme dedication, diligence and desire to learn and want to improve yourself. She's asked probing questions and that helps the audience to gain more insight from the lesson. She is the first one on the entire base to receive this award and that's pretty exciting.”

The crowd caught Airman 1st Class Katie Moeller, AFN Incirlik broadcast producer, during a newscast and soon after began to congratulate her on her accomplishments. Currently, Moeller has 11 classes with 11 total hours under her belt.

“It was awesome to win this award,” said Moeller. “It was a total surprise, they caught me off guard. My shop thought outside of the box and when we were doing training, Chief Master Sgt. Clark and Senior Master Sgt. Pawlik came up and surprised me with the award.”

Titan University is a 39th Air Base Wing initiative that serves as a professional development program to teach Airmen key Air Force material from subject matter experts deemed foundational to career growth.

“Professional development is a key component of getting better as an American Airman,” said Clark. “We already know the Airmen are doing a fantastic job. Every day they get the mission done, but, those Airmen, who are super sharp and do a little bit extra, who want to get a gain up on everybody else, they're going to work harder.”

Around November 2015, when Moeller wasn’t busy with the AFN Incirlik morning radio show, performing radio remotes for base events or capturing footage, she began taking Titan University courses to enhance her Air Force knowledge.

“At first, I was taking these classes just to take them,” said Moeller. “It was a new program and I wanted to get a feel for it, and I actually really started to enjoy them. I really started to learn stuff and apply it to work. It has honestly really helped me in my workplace and it’s something I can talk about with my peers and encourage them to join.”

Titan University has as they call, “39 things,” or courses, one can take such as, Time Management, Customer Service, and Risk Management and Safety. The program is geared toward service members, but any Department of Defense identification card holder may attend.

“Classes are just an hour of your time,” said Moeller.

“It's so easy, quick and simple. You learn a lot and there are a lot of great people there. You're only helping yourself.”

Clark is hopeful Titan University will continue to make changes and better Airmen at Incirlik.

“They get taught courses by senior NCOs and they are going to get better,” Clark added. “They are going to take it to their work centers and they will improve processes. There is always something you can get better at and that's what Titan University does. It empowers our Airmen to get better as Airmen.”

For more information, or those interested in signing up for classes through Titan University, contact Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Pawlik, at 676-8347. Additionally, you can go to http://www.incirlik.af.mil/ and click on the Titan University logo on the right under Hot Topics.

• Date Taken: 03.18.2016
• Date Posted: 03.22.2016 04:51
• Story ID: 193115
• Location: 1, TR