Pencils down

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Maysonet
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Testing is a critical aspect of Air Force life. Whether it's the end of course exam for an airman's career development course, promotion testing or some other professional military education: testing often determines the future of each airman.

For Laughlin, the responsibility of ensuring testing is properly handled falls on the shoulders of one man: Alexander Valdez, 47th Force Support Squadron education technician.

"I help with CDC testing and all other military testing," said Valdez. "Testing is important to the Air Force so I try my hardest to make sure everyone I proctor a test for is comfortable because I want them to succeed."

Valdez, a Del Rio, Texas, native and former Army human resource specialist, has worked at Laughlin since 2004. He began as a T-1A Jayhawk crew chief in maintenance before moving to customer service, where he issued ID cards for four years. In 2009, Valdez was offered the job of becoming the base's test examiner.
"I like the job, and I can't think of anything negative about it," said Valdez. "It's something I really like to do."

As a test proctor, Valdez is responsible for overseeing more than 330 tests a year including CDC end of course exams, the Weighted Airman's Promotion System test, the Defense Language Aptitude Battery and Defense Language Proficiency Test, and much more.

Accomplishing this requires a lot of logistics; Valdez schedules testers, prepares test materials and prepares the testing environment for everyone when he proctors exams.

"To administer a test, I have to start preparing two months in advance," said Valdez. "I make sure the right book for each exam is ordered to meet demands and record the proper disposal of obsolete books. I also review lists of eligible testers and schedule them for testing, which is the largest time sink."

In addition to ensuring the smooth administering of each test, Valdez's other key responsibility is security.

"I have control of the testing material, and if something goes missing, it's my responsibility," said Valdez. "If testing materials disappear it affects the entire Air Force."

The Air Force conducts all tests in the same manner, so a missing test means the Air Force must spend a considerable amount of money to rewrite the lost or stolen test to ensure test takers pass on their own merit, explained Valdez.

Worse still, a lost test could mean a security compromise since many tests include sensitive information.

"Making sure testing is fair and honest is a sacred duty," said Valdez. "Testing, especially promotion testing, affects lives. A passing test often means more responsibility and pay. I ensure nothing is compromised and things are properly submitted so a tester's hard work is recognized."

For Valdez, seeing people succeed is the reason he works so hard to ensure each test goes smoothly.

"I take pride when people that test with me succeed," said Valdez. "I see so many nervous and worried faces when people sit down to test that it makes me strive to make things as comfortable as I can to help people succeed."

The care and skill Valdez shows in performing his job makes him a critical member of Team XL's education staff.

"Valdez is a key part of the education and training team," said Christine Engel, 47th FSS chief of education and training. "The mission he performs touches each airman on base and affects their career progression. We are lucky to have someone so dedicated to his work."