Stellar NCOs are Leading Edge of JB MDL

by Capt. Brzooke Brzozowske
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center

10/28/2013 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ  -- 

Twenty-five service members from seven installation units participated in the Leading Edge seminar Oct. 20-25, 2013, here.

Leading Edge is a program designed to give top performing E-5s and E-6s from all service branches a view of the installation's strategic operations and leadership, providing them leadership skills and demonstrating their impact and role in their installation's mission.

The program and yearly seminar are based off of Air Mobility Command's Phoenix Stripe, the major command's initiative to develop noncommissioned officers and mid-grade civilians into future leaders by teaching leadership skills and illustrating each Airman's role in the overall mobility mission. 

"Our goal was to not have any run-of- the-mill air-show-type briefings," said Master Sgt. C. Chris Sherman, 6th Airlift Squadron loadmaster and seminar lead. "These are the future enlisted leaders and we want them to understand the joint base from a strategic level and how we fall into the grand scheme of AMC and the Air Force."

 

The selection criteria are extensive and strict. Along with prerequisite reading, The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, each of the participants had to exemplify excellence in all areas of their work. 

"The participants were nominated and selected because they were the best of the best within their respective units," said Sherman. "They also had to be nominated by their group commanders, so they had to be 'fit to fight' in every way."

"This program was incredibly informative," said Staff Sgt. Annie Ford, 87th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician. "The participants were a great group of people, and it really opened my eyes to so many new careers and missions across the installation."

This was also the first Leading Edge seminar with joint participants including representatives from the Navy, Marines and Army along with Air Force members. 

"I thought this was a great platform to really build relationships and to better understand the role of the other services on the installation," said Marine Sgt. Xavier Ten, Marine Aircraft Group 49 logistician.

In addition to many other benefits, Leading Edge fills a gap in the NCO Professional Military Education cycle. It is considered to be a milestone professional development event for joint base members.

 "I hope that in the future this becomes even more joint," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Megan Munoz, 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron instructor. "The professional insight we gained was invaluable because this was extended to the other services."

While the seminar was hosted out of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Headquarters, the Leading Edge participants had the opportunity to visit more than two dozen locations across JB MDL and speak with a variety of panels from current enlisted and officer leadership. 

"The panels were outstanding," said Ford. "As an E-5, you don't normally have the opportunity to engage with senior enlisted members, especially from other career fields.  The panels were an opportunity to gain a new perspective into another area of the installation."

The Leading Edge program is a McGuire Top Three annually sponsored event, with additional support from the Eagles Top Three Association, Contingency Response Wing Top 3, Chief's Group, First Sergeants Council and United Communities.