Level Up Week to emphasize Airmen needs

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  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Registration is open for the 88th Air Base Wing’s Level Up Week, which takes place Nov. 14-18.

Administrators have created a week of development and training opportunities for WPAFB military and civilian personnel to raise their knowledge, skills and abilities.

Virtual and in-person classes are available. Registration remains open until three business days prior to each course’s start date and time.

Level Up Week spotlights Airmen needs. Its goal is to enhance mission viability and improve quality of life while implementing collaborative projects that provide mutual value to the federal government. 

Eight of the 17 unique courses were specifically created based upon results of recent base-wide assessments in personnel development and training.

A wide variety of subjects are on tap throughout the week. Here’s a look at each course:

Monday, Nov. 14

A Good Night’s Sleep (10-11 a.m., virtual): When we think about our health, we often think of nutrition and exercise, but sleep is just as important. Insufficient sleep is associated with many chronic health conditions and accidents. Come learn about sleep benefits, tips for getting enough and when to see a doctor about your sleep concerns.

Civilian Workforce Development Opportunities (noon to 2 p.m., virtual): Briefing provided by the 88th Force Support Squadron’s Workforce Development Section on the various aspects and options of workforce development, from the Air Force Personnel Center level to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Psychological Safety (1-2 p.m., virtual). This course will also be offered Nov. 16 from 9 to 10 a.m.: Psychological safety is the belief you won’t be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes. We all play a vital role in creating a psychologically safe workplace where everyone can contribute, regardless of position or rank.

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Women in the Air Force: From Yesterday into Tomorrow (9:30-11:30 a.m., in person). This course will also be offered at the same start time Nov. 16: With a docent, the tour covers historical issues, changes in laws and attitudes, and women’s contributions. It starts with early female aviators and grows through the last seven decades as pioneers pushed through barriers to become effective leaders in all Air Force subjects.

Managing Inclusion (10-11 a.m., virtual). This course will also be offered Nov. 17 from 9 to 10 a.m.: This course dives into how to contribute and create an inclusive environment within your work center. It will focus on the small and large steps we take to promote inclusion every day and how that ultimately plays a part in mission accomplishment.        

Team Wright-Patt Mentoring Checkpoint Employee Assistance Program (11 a.m. to 1 p.m., virtual): As spart of the Team Wright-Patt Mentoring Program, Education and Training’s Workforce Development Section provides Airmen and civilian personnel an opportunity to be paired with a mentor or mentee for a six-month period. Monthly meetings are held to discuss the program and learn new information or improve competencies in mentorship, leadership and other areas. Join us for this month’s checkpoint, where we will discuss the Employee Assistance Program and all it offers as a resource for Airmen.

Leading From Your Lane (1-2 p.m., virtual): Leadership is primarily about influence. In this course, you will discover habits and behaviors that help you become a better leader, bringing value and influence to your organization – no matter where you fall within the ranking system.

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Power Behind the Force: The History and Evolution of the Jet Engine (9:30-11:30 a.m., in person): With a guide, trace the jet engine’s evolution from the experimental days of World War II, through the conquering of the sound barrier, past Mach 3 and into the future. In a walking tour, see and hear what drove the selection of propulsion for such aircraft as the F-22, C-5, SR-71 and C-130.

Mindful Eating (noon to 1 p.m., virtual): “Mindfulness” is a recent buzzword in the health world. Mindful eating refers to the practice of slowing down while eating, enjoying the experience and not letting distractions get in the way. The result? A healthier relationship with food, among a number of other health benefits. We discuss how to achieve this practice, even within a time constraint.

Understanding TSP (1-3 p.m., virtual): Understand how the Thrift Savings Plan works, different accounts and when it’s time to withdraw.

Thursday, Nov. 17

Understanding Your Individual Development Plan (9-11 a.m., virtual): What’s in your IDP? Do you know what your developmental and functional goals are? If this is like a foreign language and you want to take control of your success, this is the course for you. It will provide tips and recommendations to effectively work with your supervisor or employee to develop an IDP.

The History and Evolution of Rocketry: Basics, Ballistics and Space (9:30-11:30 a.m., in person): A tour guide will explain rocketry’s evolution, as well as the motors and vehicles they power, from the work of Robert Goddard to modern-age achievements. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force exhibits will illustrate rockets used on both ballistic and space missions, explaining how they differ and drove rocket design. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of ballistic and space mission complexities and how rocket design has evolved to satisfy the requirements.

Civilian Development Education Awareness Briefing (1-2 p.m., virtual): This briefing will provide supervisors and employees with a better understanding of applying for CDE.

Home Buying (1-3 p.m., virtual): Whether it’s your first house or fifth, learn about what to look for. The Better Business Bureau’s Dayton chapter will teach us what we need to know.

Friday, Nov. 18

Preventing Metabolic Syndrome (10-11 a.m., virtual): Each decade, the number of Americans with metabolic syndrome continues to grow. Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors that can increase your chances of developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Join Civilian Health Promotion Services to learn what factors increase your risk for metabolic syndrome and what you can do through diet, exercise and stress management to control the condition.

Professional Writing for Impact (10-11 a.m., in person): The foundation of bullet-writing is to quickly draft a sentence that clearly communicates what you did, how you did it and impact the effort produced. This style has historically been the basis of Air Force award nominations and evaluations. In this session, you’ll learn how to hone your skills so you can write for impact in all your professional communication.

Force Development Competencies (1-2 p.m., in person): The Air Force is evolving how it develops the workforce. It’s changing from task-based assessments to demonstrated behaviors for successful progression, both personally and professionally. In this session, you will learn about force-development competencies programs and how they are being used to evolve performance.

How to sign up

Registration is open to all WPAFB military and civilian personnel. Register via MyETMS at https://myetms.wpafb.af.mil. Click on the “Self-Registration” tab, search for “88 ABW” and hit “Go.” A tutorial is provided on the MyETMS homepage for first-time users.

Continuous learning points can be earned for Level Up Week courses. After attending a class, participants may request CLPs from their direct supervisor using the appropriate government system. It’s recommended they request CLPs based on the number of course hours (e.g., a two-hour course would result in two CLPs). Contact your training manager for details.

For more information, contact Shawn Meyers (shawn.meyers@us.af.mil), Mike Brame (michael.brame@us.af.mil) or the 88 FSS Workforce Development Section at 88FSS.FSDED.Hrworkflow@us.af.mil.