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The Tennessee Air National Guard hosted its second Air National Guard First Sergeant Symposium August 1-5 at Joint Base Berry Field in Nashville, Tenn. It was attended by Air National Guard first sergeants, human resource advisors, base education and training managers, and command chiefs from all three wings across the state.
"Beyond achieving all first sergeant training objectives, we would like to capitalize on the talent that’s been brought together to ensure we are consistent and standardized with processes and procedures as they pertain to taking care of our Airmen," said Command Chief Master Sgt. Mark Harris, State Command Chief, Tennessee Air National Guard. "The symposium is an opportunity to forge relationships with counterparts across the state and across the Air Force to enhance communication and sharing of best practices."
Also in attendance this year were Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Mitchell Jr., the Air National Guard First Sergeant Career Field Functional Manager at National Guard Bureau; Chief Master Sgt. Paul Tomlinson, Air Force Reserve First Sergeant Career Field Functional Manager; Senior Master Sgt. Jan Medina and Senior Master Sgt. Jerrod Kester, instructors at the USAF First Sergeant Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama; and Senior Master Sgt. Lorene Kitzmiller, a first sergeant for 1st Air Force in Florida and former Tennessee Air National Guard first sergeant.
Chief Master Sgt. Dan Mitchell emphasized leadership and management training during the symposium.
"You have the power to be the greatest we have ever had in the Air Force," Mitchell said. "It starts will how you take advantage of opportunities you've been given and transform Airmen to be the greatest they can be. We should this organization better than it was when we started."
"If we ever think we are good to go, we'll fall behind really quick. Everything you do every day matter," Harris said, echoing Mitchell's sentiment.
The annual symposium aims to provide means, mode and opportunity to our Airmen; provide clear expectations and standards; and to ensure family support needs are met.
"Our first sergeants have continued to not only meet the challenges of our field, but excel despite high operations tempos and living in a time of constant change," said Harris. "We're transforming the way we operate to continuously improve our ability to do just that."
This year's symposium was hosted by the 118th Wing in Nashville, Tenn., because it is a central location across the state for Air National Guard members to travel.
Topics covered this year included Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve specific issues, streamlining the Wings' and JFHQ's missions, deployments, discipline, Airman development, family care programs, and various other topics first sergeants deal with on a regular basis.
Retired Chief Master Sgt. Michael Kennedy was a guest speaker on the third day of the symposium, speaking on the topic of Airman Development.
"Attitude reflects leadership," he said. "Good leaders don't fight every battle; they fight the right ones."
The first Tennessee Air National Guard first sergeant symposium was held in 2015, also at Joint Base Berry Field, but was initiated and hosted by the 164th Airlift Wing out of Memphis, Tenn.
| Date Taken: | 08.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2016 15:33 |
| Story ID: | 206832 |
| Location: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Tennessee Air National Guard conducts second ever statewide First Sergeant Symposium, by MSgt Robin Brown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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