Inaugural NAF career broadening program participants named Published Aug. 7, 2012 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Four nonappropriated fund civilian employees have taken on new duties as the first participants in the Air Force Nonappropriated Fund Career Broadening Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The February 2012 NAF Developmental Team vectored 16 potential employees for career broadening out of 130 NAF employees considered, said Maria Wells, AFPC human resources specialist. Career broadening programs support the Air Force initiative to deliberately develop leaders through a continuum of education and experience. Although past NAF developmental teams have identified NAF employees for professional education opportunities such as Squadron Officer School and Air Command and Staff College, this was the first DT commissioned to also consider candidates for career broadening, Wells said. Of the four employees selected, two will work in outdoor recreation and the other two will work in lodging. NAF career broadeners will remain at their current installation for their career broadening year. Outdoor Recreation Selectees Human resources specialist Bernadette Borders, 10th Force Support Squadron, U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., and golf course manager Jeff Gutierez, 96th FSS at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Lodging Selectees Arts and crafts manager Xan Salas, 436th FSS, Dover AFB, Del., and librarian Melissa Knapp, 60th FSS, Travis AFB, Calif. Selecting the inaugural career broadeners was a challenge, Wells said. "The team had the tough task of narrowing the field down to only four selectees out of so many highly qualified candidates," she said. "The team selected those who would be best able to take advantage of the opportunity to develop leadership and management skills, as well as expand their overall knowledge of Services activities. The opportunity was open to NF-III and NF-IV employees. Those grades are comparable to GS system grades, Wells explained, with NF-III comparable to GS-5 through GS-8 and NF-IV comparable to G-9 through GS-12. "The purpose is to grow leaders who understand the broad spectrum of services missions," she said. "During their CB year, they will learn all aspects of the new job, from operations management to budget preparation and execution. They'll take with them expanded knowledge of Services, which they will be able to use in future situations." Once their career broadening year ends, CB participants return to their previous position and career field. "That doesn't mean their office will have to make do for a year," Wells said. "Services pays participants' salaries for the career broadening year, so losing offices will have the funds to hire a temporary employee in a participant's absence, if they choose to do so. It's the installation's call." The next call for applications will go out in December, at which time interested employees may submit an application. Before submitting their package, applicants must update their Transition - Civilian Development Plan and communicate with their unit commanders. "Applications must include commander recommendations, so those interested should act quickly when the call comes out," Wells said. For more information about NAF career broadening opportunities, contact the Services human resources program management section at exchapc@us.af.mil. For information about other personnel issues, visit the myPers website at http://mypers.af.mil.