Wing members to benefit from revitalized human resources council

  • Published
  • By Maj. Kallece Quinn
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Five members of the 302nd Airlift Wing's Human Resources Development Council attended a two-day 22nd Air Force sponsored workshop Oct. 21-22 at McGuire AFB, N.J.

The 22nd AF HRDC workshop was conducted to allow wing-level HRDCs to come together and share best practices on ways to positively influence the Air Force Reserve's most important resource: people.

"The workshop was filled with fired up people that want to do good things for our wings," according to Staff Sgt. Ulysses Garcia, a member of the 302nd Civil Engineer Squadron and workshop attendee.

The event was designed to be informative, educational, entertaining and inspirational to all ranks that attended. "The cross feed was fantastic," said Master Sgt. Rodney Hage, Air Force Reserve Command HRDC manager. "The interaction of the junior members could not have been better."

Other members of the 302nd AW that attended the workshop and are HRDC members included Col. Bob Chapman, 302nd AW vice commander, Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Westerlund, the wing's command chief, Lt. Col. Peter Weilbach, 302nd AW inspector general and Tech. Sgt. Christina Estrada, 302nd Operations Group intelligence section.

"We learned a lot and good information was exchanged between the different wing-level HRDCs," said Sergeant Estrada. "Everyone was sharing ideas and best practices, little ways to improve our council, wing and community."

Following the HRDC charter, the 302nd AW's goal is to personally and professionally develop a diverse force that is highly skilled, motivated and enthusiastic. The HRDC also acts as a conduit for information flow between unit members, Individually Mobilized Augmentees and the wing commander.

"HRDC is an excellent tool in helping others, it could be someone in your community or a fellow Airman," said Sergeant Garcia. "Being a member of this council has empowered me and helped me be a positive impact on this wing."

According to the wing's HRDC charter, the council's focus areas are: Orientation and Assimilation, Career Development and Mentoring, Morale and Retention, Marketing and Relations and Community Outreach. The hope is by impacting the wing and community members in these five areas, it will help unit commanders create and maintain diversified personnel that meet our readiness requirements and reflects the vary of our community.

"Being a member of the wing's HRDC has allowed me to meet different types of people, of all ranks, that give me a different perspective of the Air Force," Sergeant Estrada said. "This group has facilitated a lot of peer mentorship, allowing those that attend to hear from those of similar ranks, as well as senior ranking members that have a lot of knowledge to share."

The Air Force Reserve Command HRDC was initially developed in 1992 to review the diversity of AFRC senior leadership. The initiative soon developed into an effort to address issues impacting all aspects of the career progression of all AFRC personnel. Within four years, each wing was directed to form a local HRDC program to tackle people issues at the wing level.

"The HRDC programs at all levels directly and indirectly support the commands vision of creating 'unrivaled wingmen' through three main areas: people, readiness, employer and community support," said Colonel Chapman.

During 2008, the wing's HRDC has dedicated an immense effort to reorganizing and improving the council and its vision. "I think we are on the right track, have the right mix of people, focus areas and the leadership support to take the next leap into action," Colonel Chapman said. "We are expecting to influence the wing positively in many areas."

The council continues to seek new members and Sergeant Estrada hopes other wing members will "take the time to see what it's all about. We are attempting to do great things for the wing and can always use more helping hands," she said.

Colonel Chapman summed up the program: "HRDC is a place where an Airman Basic can impact the life of a Colonel."

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