Photo By Airman 1st Class Tasi Calip | From left, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Dino, 100th Air Refueling Wing Professional...... read more read more
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ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England – The Professional Development Center plays a crucial part in shaping the next generation of service members. Here at RAF Mildenhall, the PDC team makes it their mission to support and inspire anyone that walks through their doors.
The PDC offers the First Term Enlisted Course, First Term Officer Course and Foundations. These classes are designed to enhance skills and develop members from all tiers to progress in their career. “We want first-term Airmen to have some nuggets of knowledge of what the base can provide them if they ever need it,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ming Le, RAF Mildenhall FTEC noncommissioned officer in charge. “That early exposure can influence how Airmen approach their careers.”
FTEC is an Air Force-wide curriculum and helps bridge the gap between technical training and operational Air Force by providing resources and knowledge they may need as they begin working in their career fields. “One of my favorite parts about overseeing FTEC is seeing Airmen more motivated and hungry after they leave here,” said Le.
Similar to the concept of FTEC, FTOC is a professional development program designed to help newly commissioned officers transition into their first duty station and prepare them for the operational environment.
“The goal with FTOC is preparing new company grade officers for what the base has,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Justin Pullen, RAF Mildenhall PDC development advisor. “They're going to be challenged even harder than our FTEC Airmen and it’s important they know what their resources are as well.”
In addition to FTEC and FTOC, the PDC offers Foundations courses for junior enlisted members to senior NCOs. These courses prepare students for higher leadership responsibilities through guided instruction, peer learning and subject matter expert facilitation.
“Being able to hear different perspectives opens other people's eyes of what we can do better or differently as leaders. Then, the goal is self-improvement and improvement of others,” said Le. “That also trickles back to our primary job here at the PDC, which is to develop the whole force through the principles of the whole Airmen concept.”
The PDC also offers career counseling to help Airmen understand the benefits and opportunities available through the Air Force.
“Retraining is probably the number one thing I deal with,” said Pullen. “I help people transition into a new career. There’s a lot of talk and rumors about how to do it and when the right time is, and I’m the hub for the correct information. I owe our Airmen the correct information.”
Beyond the classroom, the PDC has been implementing united front physical training, providing an opportunity to build camaraderie, strengthen teamwork, and reinforce the importance of working together as one force.
“The purpose is to get the base involved – getting SNCOs and CGOs to participate, the goal is to get a one-to-one match with whatever class is out here, so we pair up and get motivation going,” said Pullen. “Airmen leave realizing that they're more capable than they thought, and that the standard of fitness culture is super important. It's essentially an hour of hard PT, but also an hour of mentorship as well.”
With support from all over base, from wing leadership to instructor volunteers, the PDC is a constant machine in guaranteeing success to all those who enter.
“Knowledge is key, knowledge is power,” said Le, “You have to go out and seek it – we're here for everyone to come seek knowledge.”
| Date Taken: | 08.26.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2026 09:17 |
| Story ID: | 573237 |
| Location: | GB |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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