Senior leaders at March Air Reserve Base, California recently launched the Leadership and Development Series (L&DS) during the 2017 October A and B unit training assembly (UTA) in front of a standing-room-only crowd in the Cultural Resource Center (CRC).
The L&DS are seminars that will be held every UTA Sunday from 9 -10 a.m. in the CRC. The seminars are geared toward enhancing the responsibility and development of all personnel who attend, both officers and enlisted.
The Chiefs Group, along with various wing councils and senior leadership across the Wing has teamed up to ensure the L&DS is as successful and effective as possible.
“L&DS will be facilitated by a variety of subject matter experts, attendees can expect to enhance their leadership skills by becoming better informed of a variety of topics that are outside of the technical scope of what we do,” said Chief Master Sgt. Cynthia Villa, command chief of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing. “For example; sharpening writing skills with EPRs/1206s/STEP II packages, better understanding of the LOD/MEB process, improve communication in a variety of ways, promotion process and requirements, supervisory tools, and many more leadership and development topics that will provide tools to be more effective.”
Leadership tools such as L&DS provide opportunities to develop qualities of good leadership that are essential for career growth and organizational success. These types of skill sets acquired through military training are qualities that can be used not only in your military careers, but for personal growth and civilian careers as well.
According to Villa, it’s imperative that military members take every opportunity they can for leadership development training. “These types of training are what set military members above the rest and merit recognition by civilian employers,” said Villa.
They are beneficial to members because civilian employers hold high regard for candidates that have gained leadership experience and operational expertise through military service.
DaVita, is a leading independent medical group and a leading provider of kidney care services in the United States, and has been named a 2017 Military-Friendly Employer for the eighth consecutive year by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse Magazine.
DaVita recognized that hiring individuals with military service makes good business sense, and expresses gratitude to those that have served in uniform.
“Leadership qualities are in high demand in healthcare; we can teach basic skills but individuals who have invested in themselves to build leadership characteristics provide immediate impact on the teams they join,” said Lance Bradshaw, regional operations director for DaVita Hospital Services Group. “Candidates with leadership experiences, and especially those with a military background, can influence fellow teammates and inspire higher levels of individual performance and better organizational results.”
November seminars will focus on conflict resolution followed by effective writing in December. Professional development, communication, and leadership will be the lead off topics beginning January 2018.
“There is a need to better lead and develop our Airmen at all levels,” said Villa. “As senior leaders, it is our responsibility to equip our Airmen with the tools they need to be successful; our Airmen are doing great things day in and day out and they deserve to be developed and encouraged to succeed.”