U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group and 725th Air Mobility Squadron attended the 725th’s inaugural Foundations 300 Course, Oct. 27, 2025, at Naval Station Rota, Spain.
Foundations Courses 300, 500, and 700 are five-day courses designed to close developmental gaps between Airman Leadership School, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy. For Airmen already selected for promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant, the Foundations 300 course will become a mandatory prerequisite to attending the Airman Leadership School in 2026.
However, at a typical Air Force base the installation development advisor is responsible for teaching the course, but because the 725th AMS is stationed at NAVSTA Rota, with no support for Air Force base-level services, the squadron is administering it themselves.
“With support from the developmental advisory team, we developed a plan that worked for us as a geographically separated unit,” said Senior Master Sgt. Markus Nelson, 725th AMS first sergeant. “I’m proud of our facilitators and leadership at every level who made it happen, ensuring our Airmen didn’t miss a beat in their professional development.”
It was the culmination of months long discussions between the development advisor at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, who supports the squadron and ensured they picked the right Airmen to teach the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education curriculum.
The lead instructors for the event were Master Sgt. Futi Naea, 521st AMOG quality assurance chief inspector, and Master Sgt. Robert Nowak, 521st AMOG financial management superintendent. Many members of the 521st AMOG maintain a strong connection to the squadron for camaraderie, to participate in developmental activities, or because they had previously been in the squadron themselves.
“I am extremely honored to facilitate the foundations course with the professionals of the 725th AMS,” added Nowak. “I believe that the Air Force is in good hands with these future NCO leaders!”
Despite the additional workload, holding the class locally came with many benefits. It served as a squadron teambuilding event, promoting cross-functional interaction as aircraft maintainers, command post controllers, and financial management Airmen who shared their different experiences throughout the curriculum. It also allowed the curriculum to be customized to address specific issues that affect 725th AMS Airmen, such as being one of two Air Force squadrons in Spain, or their unique contributions to joint force missions through Rapid Global Mobility.
"It was truly refreshing to see the next generation of soon-to-be NCOs so hungry and curious about the bigger picture,” said Naea. “Watching them engage and connect the dots between their role and the broader mission was inspiring. This course was all about laying a solid foundation for them to build on, always with a forward-looking focus."
The final day of Foundations 300 featured a leadership panel with the senior enlisted leaders of the 725th AMS, 521st AMOG, and NAVSTA Rota answering questions from students about leadership and how to take better advantage of the strong partnership between the Air Force and U.S. Navy.
"Overall, this was a fantastic demonstration of the great things our Airmen can accomplish when given the opportunity,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Ritenour, 725th AMS senior enlisted leader. “I am also very grateful that Command Master Chief Donald Alvarado was able to join Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Puskas [521st AMOG senior enlisted leader] and I on the final day to provide a Navy perspective during our senior enlisted panel. His partnership and support have been invaluable to the 725th AMS.”
For the Airmen of the 521st AMOG and 725th AMS, this course represents more than just a prerequisite, it’s an investment into their future. The course fostered camaraderie, promoted cross-functional understanding, and connected them with senior leaders from both the Air Force and Navy. With these newly acquired attributes, these NCOs will help strengthen the Air Force’s presence and capabilities in this vital overseas location.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2025 08:09 |
| Story ID: | 553482 |
| Location: | NAVAL STATION ROTA, ES |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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