Taking the lead

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lauren Gleason
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Twenty-five students from Tinker and other reserve units in the Air Force Reserve Command graduated from a one-week leadership course here Aug. 12.

Course instructor, Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth Wright, a Health Services Management superintendent from the 908th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, says the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Development Course is taught once a month throughout Air Force Reserve Command. Each of the 24 instructors in the cadre teaches approximately three classes a year.

“This class is a safe environment for discussing real issues that we all deal with in the workplace,” said Wright. “We will try to find ways for you to cope with situations in your work center.”

Staff Sgt. Mary Ly, an environmental electrical technician with the 507th Maintenance Squadron here, said the interaction made her realize the value of working as a team.  

“Actually practicing the scenarios was really beneficial and gave me a basis for when tough situations happen in real life,” Ly said.

Not all of the students were from the local area. Tech. Sgt. David Alton, a firefighter with the 914th Civil Engineer Squadron, traveled to Tinker from Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York.

 “The course definitely improved my skills at writing enlisted performance reports and writing in general,” Alton said. “I would recommend it to anyone who wants to be a better leader.”

507th Air Refueling Wing commander, Col. Doug Gullion, was on hand to speak to and congratulate the students.

The Air Force Reserve Command NCOLDC was established in 1989 in order to equip enlisted personnel with valuable leadership training.

The five-day course enlisted leaders how to recognize leadership skills in an organization, how to recognize the impact of power in a group, how to develop team-building skills and other leadership qualities.