Customer college opens at Friendliest Place on Earth

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The Friendliest Place on Earth opened the 49th Fighter Wing Customer College and Training Center in a ceremony on base June 28. 

The customer college's focus is to make Holloman Airmen the best at providing customer service, said Tech. Sgt. Learie Gaitan, 49th Services Squadron customer college training manager. 

The idea was given to the 49 SVS from Brig. Gen. David Goldfein, 49 FW commander, said Ms. Sydnee Vinson, 49 SVS customer college training technician. 

"I never envisioned what you all put together," said General Goldfein at the ceremony. "I can't wait to watch this take off and grow." 

The college entails a two-day "associates degree" course, said Ms. Vinson. The first day is learning about how to interact with internal and external customers. The first day the class watches movies such as "Give 'Em the Pickle" and find each personality type. The second day focuses on how to deal with difficult customers and communication. 

The goal is to have everyone on Holloman take the course in order to incorporate the Friendliest Place on Earth idea into every job, said Sergeant Gaitan. The college even offers "a la carte" learning where the teachings are specialized for each job on base. 

The 49 FW Customer College and Training Center is located at the old Westerner Dining Facility. The renovation took about four months. 

"We tore down a partition, glued carpet, replaced the sign outside and the doors and got new furniture," said Ms. Vinson. "Sergeant Gaitan even climbed into the ceiling to install the sound system." 

During the four-month renovation, the class was being written and preliminary classes were given, said Ms. Vinson. 

The 49 FW Customer College and Training Center is now open to all who would like to learn how to provide more effective customer service and help make Holloman the Friendliest Place on Earth.