Mastering Leadership: Getting ready for SNCO success Published Jan. 27, 2025 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Figueroa 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- As one of the initial lead cadres of the Junior Enlisted Foundations course 300, NCO Foundations course 500 and the SNCO Foundations course 700 here, U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Fogleman, 8th Battalion and Montgomery Military Entrance Processing Station senior enlisted advisor, and Master Sgt. Daunte Saloy, 908th Operations Support Squadron first sergeant and foundations facilitator and mentor, focused on creating an impactful and tactically relevant experience for the recent iteration of the Foundation 700 course. U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Johnson left, 908th Maintenance Group, Tech. Sgt. Torrence Washington, 908th Flying Training Wing, and Master Sgt. Sasha Harrison, 908th Civil Engineering Squadron, all Foundations 700 Course students, speak to each other in the classroom at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Dec. 19, 2025. Foundation courses 300, 500 and 700 are Air Force-wide, and replace the base-level enlisted Professional Enhancement Seminars. (Courtesy Photo) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Foundation courses 300, 500 and 700 are Air Force-wide, and replace the base-level enlisted Professional Enhancement Seminars. These courses are also a prerequisite for Air Force Enlisted Professional Military Education. Maxwell held the first Foundations 700 course in August, and it has become a way to network, build skills, and interact with others. Students learned from diverse backgrounds, specialties, and different experiences within their careers. “By giving students real-world, mission-type orders to develop and physically execute, we provided a hands-on learning experience that reinforced the week’s lessons,” said Fogleman. “This approach allowed the class to collaborate, adapt, and overcome challenges, showcasing their ability to apply their knowledge to real-world objectives effectively.” Fogleman joined the initial cadre in the summer of 2024 to help bring the foundations program online at Maxwell. Wing leadership looked for former instructors to help launch the initiative; Saloy also became a foundations facilitator in September of the same year. “The front line is developing leaders, getting them caught up on what’s going on around the world, and setting them up for success, especially when we’re talking about 700,” said Fogleman. “The biggest thing for me is networking, establishing connections with other people, classmates and teammates.” During the course, instructors emphasized the need for students to be more involved and supportive of their Airmen, encouraging them to get out from behind their desks and engage with them. U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tracey Adams left, 908th Operations Support Squadron and Master Sgt. Kimberly Bush, 703rd Helicopter Squadron, attend a Foundations 700 Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Dec. 19, 2025. Foundation courses 300, 500 and 700 are Air Force-wide, and replace the base-level enlisted Professional Enhancement Seminars. (Courtesy Photo) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “As a first sergeant, I’ve learned that building strong relationships within the development community is crucial,” said Saloy. “I’ve seen how these connections can create opportunities for our Airmen and help me understand their needs.” While the courses 300, 500 and 700 have been successful, there is space for future improvements such as refining the capstone to make it more relevant and hands-on, allowing students to better apply what they have learned through the courses, and involve students in curriculum enhancement, ensuring changes and additions align with their needs and expectations. Instead of traditional lectures with PowerPoints slides, the courses focused on open dialogue and reflective learning. The importance of each topic was driven home to create a lasting, reflective experience, allowing cadre to engage, teach and mentor Airmen on a personal level. “The course is gaining momentum and recognition on and beyond the installation,” Fogleman said. “The positive feedback from graduates has helped spread its value, and they’ve been instrumental in sharing their experiences with their peers, which has bolstered the program’s reputation.” More information about the courses can be found at, https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/Foundations/