Photo By Balinda ONeal | Alaska National Guard senior leaders participate in a Transformational Leadership...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard hosted a Transformational Leadership Summit for senior non-commissioned and field grade officers to provide military professionalism and ethical fitness training to key members of the organization here Feb. 11-12.
In its third year, the event brought Air and Army leaders together to participate in learning sessions, small group discussions and continue to build trust throughout the organization.
“We hope, that by having annual conferences, it continues to show members of the organization, as our number one resource, we are invested in them,” said Chief Master Sgt. Winfield Hinkley, the AKNG’s senior enlisted leader, affirming that the conference has been the biggest task since taking over the position of being the adjutant general’s advisor on all matters for enlisted personnel and their families last August.
The planning team, which consists of the SEL, state command chaplain and a volunteer committee, coordinates the administrative and logistical aspects of the event and conducts portions of the training themselves. The SEL and SCC partnership ensures the created trainings maximize the impact of leadership issues unique to officers and enlisted members alike.
“Each time we conduct a conference, more members of the Alaska National Guard step forward with an interest to be involved,” said Chaplain (Col.)Richard Koch, the state command chaplain and cosponsor of the event since its origination. “Our newest senior enlisted leader completely embraced leadership concepts, military professionalism, and ethical fitness training efforts even before he arrived in Alaska last summer – having joined our discussions via teleconference.”
“Developing dynamic teams that are energized to develop members to overcome challenges they don’t even know are around the corner is a passion of mine,” said Hinkley, who attributes his past experience at the Air National Guard Training and Education Center for opening his eyes to a hunger for professional development in the force. “Our members want to be fed and want to be equipped to feed themselves, and I want to be a part of that.”
The Alaska National Guard makes it a priority to shape and sustain a healthy culture and considers integrity, honor and professionalism essential to an ethically fit force. Good character, honest choices and a bold commitment to high standards is vital to the organization.
“When all service members see the values demonstrated consistently among the leaders, then a shared culture driven by a high standard of ethical behavior creates an environment that promotes and nurtures a passion among the entire team to accomplish the mission,” said Koch, who was happy to see how universally engaged and enthusiastic the joint audience of Alaska Air and Army Guard field grade officers and senior NCOs were throughout both days of training.
Energetic discussion filled with personal stories, lessons learned, and encouragement resonated amongst the senior leaders during the learning sessions, small group discussions and open panel forum – consisting of the Alaska Air and Army commanders and their senior enlisted leadership.
“I have found that many want to share their wisdom and feel the energy of transforming a member but lack the tools to jump right into it,” said Hinkley, who wants to help build a team of Alaska Guard members that can both write and deliver organized material that drives the organization down a path of lifelong learning. “I want to build that base of lessons and delivery skills that creates the appetite to continue development of our force well past my time in the organization.”
The group was left with a challenge to commit what they have learned to action and hold themselves accountable.
“It’s what you do from here that will define the success of this training,” said Hinkley. “If you choose to do nothing, you have wasted your time, but if you show tangible actions, you show you are fully committed to all your members and the culture of our organization.”
The planning team is looking at targeting junior level leaders for future conferences.
“Members are part of the Alaska National Guard for a very long time and I would like to see the building of trusting relationships start at the lowest level to build the return on investment,” said Hinkley. “Our Army and Air National Guard will continue you to work with each other and the more synergy we build early in a member’s career the better.”
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 02.19.2019 20:48 |
| Story ID: | 311192 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Hometown: | CLEAR AIR FORCE STATION, AK, US |
| Hometown: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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