Birds of a feather 'mock-board' together

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher R. Morales
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Arctic Warrior Airman's Advisory Council hosted a mock below-the-zone board Nov. 7 during their monthly meeting to educate new Airmen how boards work in the Air Force.

"This is what the Airman's Council is about, helping Airmen on base [because] our biggest focus is the younger Airmen," said Senior Airman Renna Moses, 673d Air Base Wing Judge Advocate specialist and AWAAC board member. "We are going by the saying 'practice makes perfect' and that's what we want to portray."

To provide the most information in the limited allotted time only one Airman went through the mock board which was displayed in front of more than 30 Airmen at the meeting.

Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Delgado, 3rd Munitions Squadron Material Flight chief, and Master Sgt. David Thomas, 517th Airlift Squadron Operations superintendent, volunteered to ask the mock board questions, additionally answering any questions the AWAAC had.

Since every board is different, the critiques and tips the SNCOs provided revolved around the one aspect that can be taken anywhere: the Airman's sense of self.

"The board wants to know who you are," Delgado said. "90 percent of points are in confidence and presentation. Even if you have no idea [what the answer is], we want to see the wheels turning."

Airman 1st Class Anthony Taylor, 673d Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management analyst, volunteered to meet the mock board because he is actually scheduled for a real Airman BTZ board in February.

He completed his career development course tests quickly, and became a physical training lead, and is currently working towards his community college of the Air Force degree while doing his job every day.

"Now I know how it is going to be and what I need to practice," Taylor said. "I wish I could've done that one more time."

The mock board was suggested to the AWAAC earlier in the year to benefit new Airmen who haven't been to any kind of board yet.

For any Airman looking to meet with a board, the best resource is leadership - and the best practice­ is practice.

"The more you practice, sit in front of a practice panel, [the more] you will be confident and relaxed in the situation," Thomas said. "Remember that not everybody is going to get elected. Don't let that failure deflate you, there will always be more to achieve."