Seminar aims to develop leader Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Nearly 40 Airmen had the opportunity to attend a monthly, half-day development seminar at Bldg. 3080 on Feb. 12.

The seminar, aimed at developing effective leadership qualities within Malmstrom Airmen included six blocks of instruction. Staff Sgt. T.J. Lombardi, 341st Security Support Squadron vehicles and equipment section NCO in charge, developed and hosted this seminar.

"When I was [deployed to] Kuwait, there was a development seminar offered to staff sergeants and above and I wondered why it wasn't available to Airmen," Lombardi said. "So I decided to make my own seminar. After I met some young Airmen and started soaking up their energy, I thought, how can I teach them about the Air Force mission, lessons and career options? Since August 2012, more than 120 Airmen have attended four seminars covering nearly 30 topics with 22 speakers ranging from staff sergeant to colonel."

The seminar included six blocks of instruction covering several leadership topics to include being a subject matter expert, leadership as a senior airman, lonely at the top, and leadership at the command level.

Dynamics of a follower and leader
Master Sgt. Dale Campbell, 341st SSPTS flight chief, discussed past experiences to emphasize the importance of followership in the U.S. Air Force.

"Followership is one thing the Air Force really doesn't spend a whole lot of time focusing on," Campbell said. "Everybody is not a leader. You've all heard the saying 'Too many chiefs, not enough Indians.' If we were all chiefs, nothing would happen. The follower is more important to the leader than the leader is to the follower. I've been in the Air Force for 20 years and I still follow just as much as I lead. If you can't be a good follower, you have no chance at being a successful leader."

Be the subject matter expert
Staff Sgt. Breyson Robinson, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen dormitory leader, talked about the importance of being a subject matter expert.

"After I graduated technical school, I was here for seven months before I deployed for the first time," Robinson said. "After I returned, I was a missile chef for one year before I toured with Tops in Blue. Following that, I worked everywhere from the fitness center to the Elkhorn Dining Facility and lodging office. What I learned at all those places is the importance of being a subject matter expert. Regardless if you stay in the same type of career path, being a reliable source of information is critical."

Robinson then discussed the importance of the acronym A-P-E to educate attendees on how to become a better SME.

"A if for being available," Robinson said. "When I say being available, I mean make yourself available to receive a mentor. P is for proactive; if you see something that is broken, be the first person to volunteer to fix it. E is for excited; be excited and energized about what it is that you do. Your job is what you do to feel a sense of worth."

Leadership as a senior airman
Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Beadles, 341st Medical Group superintendant, shared several lessons he's learned while climbing the enlisted ladder.

"When I got to my first duty station as a one-striper, I was the youngest Airman in the shop," Beadles said. "I had a supervisor - Staff Sgt. Frank - who helped define my career. He put me in a lot of leadership positions. The Air Force counts on you - one, two and three stripers - to be a leader amongst peers."

Beadles explained that every Airman can be a leader and that the Air Force counts on those leaders to be effective ones.

Lonely at the top
Lombardi's block centered on making the hard but right decisions, which may leave some leaders friendless.

"A lot of Airmen like to stand at the base of the mountain, look up and only admire," Lombardi said. "It's about taking initiative. All Airmen have potential but some are wondering how they can get started.

"I hope all of you will start to path out your success and goals for your career," he said. "Challenge yourselves; finding mentors and the right peers that will support you, is key."
Airmen were then broken into three groups where they were asked come up with a group leadership style and philosophy. They then briefed their leadership philosophy to a panel of senior NCO's.

Leadership at the command level
Col. Robert Stanley, 341st Missile Wing commander, was the last briefer of the day. He focused on qualities of a strong leader and expectations for himself and the Airmen of Wing One.

"These are the things I think the best leaders I worked for exhibited," Stanley said. "First, I don't waste people's time. I don't like to waste time perfecting frivolous things. Second thing is, I like to be honest and blunt. Next thing is, find out who the really good Joes are, get them promoted, and get them good jobs . . . The other thing is listening. My mother always told me I had two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen more than you talk. The last thing is treat people like adults. I am very strict and will hold people responsible if they do something wrong."

Lombardi plans to host another seminar for Airmen in March. For more information or to reserve a seat, email Lombardi at timothy.lombardi@us.af.mil.