HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Holloman Air Force Base hosted its second 49er Leadership Course at the Professional Development Center on October 6th and 7th.
This course is designed for flight-level leadership to learn skills and responsibilities that they can use as they take on designated leadership positions in their respective career fields.
Senior noncommissioned officers and company grade officers participated in a variety of activities and briefings to learn how to bolster the communication between flight leadership and Airmen within the 49th Wing.
“Our hope is that this class gives leaders the answers to questions they may have about how to effectively lead their Airmen to success,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jose Sanchez, 49th Component Maintenance Squadron flight chief. “What we need to focus on the most is building communication.”
For flight chiefs and flight commanders, this course teaches different styles of leadership through team building activities, a chiefs’ panel, a conflict resolution course and more.
“I took this class because I wanted to hear different perspectives on how to lead Airmen,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Anthony Pipe, 314th Fighter Squadron flight commander. “My favorite part was hearing from senior noncommissioned officers in the chiefs’ panel about what their expectations are for me as a flight commander.”
The course allows flight leaders to learn how to facilitate the development of Airmen on a personal level as well as from a career perspective.
“Communication involves caring for Airmen, but it also involves learning how to develop Airmen,” said Sanchez.
Flight commanders and their flight chiefs attend the course in tandem to enhance their ability to work together as a leadership team and attack challenges in their flights. The attention and thought put into the class exemplified the dedication, even at the lowest level, of the Fightin’ 49ers to lead and develop world class Airmen.