PACE visits 97 AMW Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cody Dowell
  • Altus Air Force Base Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  On March 2, 2015, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh directed the activation of the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence (PACE). PACE is tasked to be laser-focused on infusing Air Force core values within the Profession of Arms. They accomplish this by standardizing and synchronizing Air Force-wide professionalism courses.

Members of the PACE team came down for three days to teach several courses to further the development of the 97th Air Mobility Wing members, Feb. 12-14, 2019, teaching members about a variety of different Air Force professional development topics.

“When Airmen improve themselves it makes the mission more successful,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Michael Ellis, 97th AMW career assistance advisor. “Everybody looks for self-development opportunities because nobody’s perfect. These courses are a great example on who to identify strengths and weaknesses which in turn will better their units. Any person regardless of rank always has room and time to further their professional abilities.”

Having PACE come to the 97th AMW was requested by leadership as an investment to increase the base’s abilities to accomplish the mission.

“We have a role as military members to give our service to this great county,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matt Basler, PACE senior professionalism consultant. “We have a responsibility and values that we have to uphold to the people of this nation. Those are our core values, they bind us together and that common vision can help us achieve greatness.”

PACE professionals taught three different courses for all different ranks and positions to better focus their target audiences. The course that was available to all military, DoD civilians and spouses was the Enhancing Human Capitol (EHC) seminar.

“I have heard nothing but good things about the seminar,” said Ellis. “The seminar goes over professionalism, communication, trust and other things of that nature and can really benefit anyone Even if someone takes five minutes of the seminar back with them, it can improve their home life or work life and that helps make the mission happen.”

One of the other seminars given was the “What Now Airmen” sessions, scenarios based off actual events that happen to lower enlisted members, but the sessions were expanded to NCO’s, SNCO’s and CGO’s as well.

“I have never before seen a SNCO or a CGO see a ‘What Now Airman’ before,” said Ellis. “Going over scenarios about finance, core values, drug use and other problems that junior enlisted and their supervisors face. These are not scenarios that were pulled out of a hat, these were developed by Airmen and for all Airmen. It’s good to see not only the Airmen’s perspective because they fit exactly in those shoes, but you see the supervisor perspective as well.”

The final session Leadership Team Assessment targeted commanders and chiefs specifically by having them fill out leadership style survey and then discussing them at the seminar.

“Everybody acts and leads differently and that is perfectly fine,” said Ellis. “The real important thing about being a leader is being able to identify strengths and weaknesses that they have. Learning to work on those weaknesses and better those strengths is a vital part about being a great leader and Airman in this line of duty.”

Training happens at all positions and levels throughout all careers in the Air Force. At the 97th Air Mobility Wing, where the mission is training initial, requalification and certification for aircrew members. This task is not possible without the continuous professional ability of the 97th AMW.