Photo By 2nd Lt. Gabriel Davenport | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Codale Vance, 521st Contingency Response Squadron Airfield...... read more read more
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U.S. service members gathered June 23-27, 2025 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey to participate in one of the Department of Defense’s premiere joint military training courses.
Leading Edge is a joint operations-focused course offered twice a year that provides service members between the ranks of E-4 to E-6 the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and gain insight into how their peers from different branches contribute to a unified, joint mission.
During this intensive 40-hour course, students learn through a combination of classroom instruction by senior leaders and hands-on group training scenarios that simulate real-world challenges. The program culminates with capstone presentations, where students address national security issues and brief their solutions to instructors and classmates.
This summer’s cohort included 19 active duty and reserve students from all service branches, providing a valuable opportunity to practice joint operations together.
“It was cool to see and understand what each branch really does and the other jobs and skillsets I had in the room with me,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Alithia Hollenkamp, 87th Medical Group Veterinary Services food inspection noncommissioned officer. “Really understanding each branch’s role and how we all have different missions but also work cohesively together to be successful was extremely eye-opening.”
The course included a range of training activities such as using a damage control trainer to simulate responding to hull damage, firing various weapon systems in electronic simulators, and touring each branch’s facilities to learn about their operations and equipment.
This year’s courses were planned and led by the JBMDL’s Leading Edge Top III Professional Development Committee, including U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. David Liu, superintendent of Group Tactics, 305th Maintenance Group, and Master Sgt. Dane Kelly, director of operations for the 818th Mission Support Advisory Squadron, Air Mobility Command. They helped revive this professional development program, which dates back to 2013, with a renewed emphasis on joint leadership development.
Liu emphasized that the benefits of the course extend far beyond the classroom, fostering a strong network of joint-service professionals committed to supporting one another.
“Some Leading Edge alums reached out to us to help when they found out we were soliciting their branch for support,” said Liu. “This proves that the Leading Edge course has had a significant impact on the participants who have attended this course.”
The next Leading Edge course is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 13-17, 2025, continuing JBMDL’s commitment to building stronger, smarter, and more connected enlisted leaders across the joint force. For those interested in participating, contact Kelly at Dane.Kelly.1@us.af.mil.
| Date Taken: | 07.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2025 07:41 |
| Story ID: | 543008 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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