Wing hosts Air Force Reserve Command leadership course

  • Published
  • By By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. --  Senior non-commissioned officers from seven units throughout Air Force Reserve Command met here Saturday and Sunday for the SNCO Leadership Course, the first of its kind hosted by the 459th Air Refueling Wing.

With a roster of more than 30 students, the two-day course consisted of group discussions, exercises, and techniques to enhance communication with commanders and subordinates.

"This is an excellent interactive program that packs a great deal of information about best practices, networking and leadership into two days," said Chief Master Sgt. Boyd Clendenen, 69th Aerial Port Squadron cargo processor and administrative facilitator for this particular course. "It's something we'd been wanting to bring to the wing for a while, and we finally just said, 'we can do this.'"

After about a year of planning and coordination with AFRC, Chief Clendenen worked with wing leadership to make the command-wide class a reality and draw "top three," master sergeant through chief, ranks here to participate.

Facilitators divided the seminar into two groups, where each class shared leadership hits and misses and discussed creating a unified voice with commanders of various management styles. Soon, the students put their trust training to the test with several memorable activities.

Military Personnel Flight Superintendent Senior Master Sgt. Sonja Kelley-Owens, 459th Mission Support Flight, trembled as she wobbled backward and blindfolded to the edge of a picnic table. Two rows of her classmates lined up to catch her during her "trust fall" into their arms. "I don't think I can do this," Sergeant Kelley-Owens said.

Seconds later, she successfully free-fell into the overlapped arms of her fellow students as cheers rang out. One by one, the students took their turns falling and learning to trust their wingmen along the way.

"This was amazing," Sergeant Kelley-Owens said. "I've never done anything like this before; in fact, I wasn't sure I'd even attend the class. But I'm so glad I did!"

Many students said they didn't know what to expect, but found the class to be a great informal resource, particularly for those unable to attend the Air Force SNCO Academy in-residence.

"It's amazing to see the transformation the students undergo in just two days," said Senior Master Sgt. Sandra Dye, 72nd Air Refueling Squadron first sergeant from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., and facilitator of five years. "The best part is that the facilitators also get to learn, too; by traveling and teaching we get to see that diversity of experience from across the command."

Chief Clendenen said he shares Sergeant Dye's sentiment.

"Whether they were sent here by their commander or came here voluntarily, people walk in this door with a certain mindset and leave with practical leadership techniques they can immediately use back at their home stations," he said. "As facilitators, we also learn by connecting with the students and hearing about issues they face at their organizations."

In line with the two-way learning street for students and facilitators, several students approached Chief Clendenen about the prospect of becoming a facilitators for future seminars.

Volunteer reservists, selected and trained at the Professional Development Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., facilitate the class. AFRC offers the course once a quarter by way of the numbered air forces. Wing command chief master sergeants select the students after receiving nomination from unit first sergeants and commanders.