Wing hosts professional development seminar

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alonzo Chapman
  • 166AW
Over 500 Airmen assigned to the 166th Airlift Wing participated in a professional development seminar held at the Delaware Air National Guard base on October 22 - 23, 2016.

Lt. Col. Teresa Roberts with the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence presented, "Professionalism: Enhancing Human Capital," a course focused on self-reflection as a means to better understand how Airmen can strengthen their personal and professional relationships.

Topics of discussion included effective communication techniques, the attributes and dangers of personal bias, and how to develop productive, healthy relationships.  Attendees also participated in group exercises and shared personal stories to emphasize the proactive approach required to creating positive change in one's life.

"There's always something we can be doing," said Roberts. "There's always room for improvement."

Enhancing Human Capital was originally developed in 2014 as a component of senior officer professional military education. However, in late 2015 former Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III directed it be taught to Airmen--military and civilian--at all levels.

Members of the 166 AW now join 40,000 Air Force personnel who have participated in the Enhancing Human Capital course since its inception. And in an effort to further expand the professional development training available to Airmen, PACE plans on rolling out other courses in the near future. One course currently in development is "Shaping the Environment," which will examine how to create an environment where people actively listen.

Understanding change can be difficult, Lt. Col. Roberts encourages Airmen to take little steps toward self-improvement by implementing the lessons learned from her course. "Make an individual assessment and pick one thing to improve," she said. "It takes time to make a new habit."

For more information on PACE and resources related to professional development, visit www.airman.af.mil.