459th hosts Reserve Officer Development course

by Staff Sgt. Katie Spencer
459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

4/7/2014 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md.  -- The 459th Air Refueling Wing hosted the Reserve Officer Development Education course at the Sheridan Suites hotel in Alexandria, Va., April 3-6.

More than 70 young officers from ranks of lieutenant to major attended the course spanning various units from Air Force Reserve Command. All attendees held some sort of status in the Reserve to include traditional reservists, Air Reserve Technicians, Active Guard/Reserves,
and Individual Mobilization Augmente.

The RODE course is four-days long and focuses on leadership development for young officers. It occurs twice a year and is broken into two phases. Phase one students receive an orientation and briefings from senior leaders along with a six-month long curriculum to be completed before they return for phase two. Phase two students are required to give an oral presentation, and help mentor the phase one officers.

"This course gives young officers the chance to 're-blue' by developing themselves as citizen Airman," said Maj. Costau Bastien, director for junior officer development, at Headquarters AFRC, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "They learn how to work the triad between military commitments, family, and civilian employer and how to take those skills and apply them to those components."

This is the first time in years the 459 ARW has hosted the RODE course.

"We are so thankful to the 459th ARW," said Bastien. "Having this course in the D.C. area is very beneficial because these officers can see the partnership between higher-level decision makers and the units. Ultimate decisions are made here and it directly affects these young officers. "

While the course offers the opportunity to hear from senior officers, it's also a chance to network with other young officers within the command.

"I look forward to networking with folks and meeting people to learn what they are doing and what works," said 1st Lt. Melanie Singer, cyberspace operations officer, 706th Fighter Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. "This course is especially important for the Reserve because it gives us the chance to be on orders and learn about leadership outside drill weekends and annual training."

Col. William Mason, 459th ARW commander, gave the young officers some advice as they continue on with their Air Force Reserve careers.

"As you talk to business leaders, community leaders, and your political leaders, you need to make sure you are pushing the Reserve," said Mason. "We always get lumped in with the Guard. We are different. And as young officers, you need to make sure you tell the Reserve story."