Thirty-one chief master sergeants-select from across Air Force Global Strike Command gathered at Barksdale AFB, La., for a four-day orientation course meant to give them the tools to lead their enlisted airmen effectively. This orientation, which took place in late January, replaces the Chiefs Leadership Course once taught at Maxwell AFB, Ala., according to a Feb. 1 Barksdale release. “It is important we teach them about our [major command] because we have certain expectations of our chiefs,” said CMSgt. Brian Hornback, AFGSC command chief. “It has been a great opportunity to be here with peers and with chiefs who have a lot of experience,” said SMSgt. Ray Lapham, Barksdale’s 2nd Maintenance Group weapons manager, who was one of the attending chiefs-select. “I’ve learned about our roles for AFGSC and what it takes to make what you do a little bit better for the lives of your people both professionally and personally,” he added. (Barksdale report by A1C Joseph A. Pagán Jr.)
The Air Force is on track to reach its annual goal of graduating 1,500 new pilots that had proved elusive to this point, one year after the service launched a sweeping overhaul of its undergraduate pilot training program, Air Education and Training Command said Sept. 14.
