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Selfridge, Travis make training connection

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton
  • 127th Wing
Nearly three dozen KC-135 maintainers brushed up on their leadership skills thanks to a unique partnership between active duty and Air National Guard Airmen at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

Two trainers from the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., spent three days this week leading a class on the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" for about 30 Airmen of the 191st Maintenance Squadron and 191st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

Senior Master Sgt. Erik Wolford, a maintenance supervisor at Selfridge, first attended the class a number of years ago as an active-duty Airman assigned to Travis. Over the years, he said, he's sent a few Airmen who worked for him at Selfridge to attend the class at Travis.

"It was one of the better classes I've had in my career not only on leadership skills, but on how to get along in the workplace in general," Wolford said.

Wolford and leaders at Travis quickly realized that training opportunities would be maximized if the trainers from Travis traveled to Selfridge, where they could reach a larger group.

Kevin Hamilton, a civilian who works for the Travis Airman & Family Readiness Center, and Master Sgt. Kristen Griffin made the trip to Michigan to facilitate the class. The trip marked the first time that the Travis-based trainers has "taken the show on the road."

"I think it has really be effective," Hamilton said. "We able to come in, have dedicated time and space, and reach far more people than we could have if Selfridge was sending out people one or two at a time to us."

During the class, students worked as a group or in pairs, to roleplay common workplace scenarios and to examine best practices.

"The goal of the class is to increase the effectiveness of a person's relationships in both their work and personal lives," Hamilton said.

The 191st is a component of the 127th Air Refueling Group at Selfridge, which operates KC-135 Stratotankers in the Michigan Air National Guard.