BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The most important resource in the military is our people. Without the Airmen and Guardians who execute the mission daily, the technology and strategies of the Department of War cannot succeed. Recognizing this, the Mile High First Sergeant Council recently hosted its biannual First Sergeant Symposium to equip the next generation of leaders with the tools needed to care for the military's most critical asset.
The symposium is designed to provide participants with practical, real-world insight into the rigorous demands of wearing the First Sergeant’s diamond. For those stepping into the role of an additional duty First Sergeant, commonly known as an "undershirt,” the week-long course is mandatory, but the skills developed during the week serve as a blueprint for effective leadership in any capacity.
"The First Sergeant Symposium gives future leaders a genuine look at what the diamond demands," said Senior Master Sgt. Ryan McCammon, First Sergeant for the Delta Staff Agencies and several 460th Mission Support Group units. "It is designed to educate, challenge, and inspire those who feel called to serve Airmen and Guardians at the deepest level. The goal is not simply to explain the role, but to build the next generation of Shirts who are ready to lead with empathy, strength, and purpose."
The symposium centers around a curriculum provided by the U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy, covering core responsibilities such as ethics, maintenance of discipline, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and domestic violence response. However, organizers at Buckley Space Force Base took the curriculum a step further.
"What sets this symposium apart is the integration of Mental Health First Aid training through WellPower and virtual crisis intervention training through the Emotional Intelligence Institute," explained Master Sgt. Dexter Dixon, First Sergeant for the 460th Medical Group. "Additionally, participants experience drug identification training provided by the Office of Special Investigations and the FBI-Denver, along with scenario-based exercises."
These interactive, real-world scenarios require students to think and act under pressure, bridging the gap between textbook policy and the complex human elements of leadership.
While the primary audience includes Tech. Sgts. and Senior Noncommissioned Officers pursuing the undershirt role, the symposium routinely welcomes Company Grade Officers, joint service members, and even coalition partners who want to better understand the human side of leadership.
For both Dixon and McCammon, the driving force behind the symposium is preparing leaders to step into the lives of service members when it matters most.
"We meet people during some of the hardest moments of their lives, personally and professionally,” said Dixon, reflecting on his four years as a First Sergeant. “The responsibility is to guide them through those moments, hold them accountable when needed, and help them get back on track. When you see someone recover, return to duty, provide for their family, or grow into a better version of themselves, that’s the win."
Yet, as McCammon notes, the role is not solely defined by crisis.
"I want people to understand that First Sergeants are not only present during the hard moments, we are also there for the victories, the milestones, and the moments that define a career," McCammon said. "The diamond is not about negativity. It is about people and families. It is about walking with Airmen and Guardians through their toughest days and celebrating with them when they reach their best ones."
Our power is our people; we train and empower service members to grow. The confidence we place in these developing leaders today becomes the strength we rely on in the future fight.
Ultimately, the symposium serves as an investment in the future readiness of the force. By teaching leaders that being a First Sergeant is not just about knowing policy, but about knowing people, the installation is building a more resilient community.