Level UP: Indiana service members attend 2022 Enlisted Leadership Symposium

Service members from throughout the state of Indiana met as much as community and refine their management abilities through the 2022 Indiana Enlisted Management Symposium at Camp Atterbury, Ind. Aug. 17-20.
The four-day ELS occasion focuses on the skilled growth of the state’s enlisted companies members by sensible workout routines, work teams and briefings from leaders and companions.
“That is an occasion to proceed their development throughout their profession path,” stated Air Drive Chief Grasp Sgt. Robert C. Hackett, command chief of the 181st Intelligence Wing. “That is extra of a face-to-face factor. It’s extra of an open discussion board as a substitute of a category work discussion board.”
The periods included present matters starting from psychological and bodily well being, service member and household sources, present occasions and insurance policies affecting service members and the army as a complete.
“As a brand new [non-commissioned officer], I now have airmen beneath me,” stated Air Drive Employees Sgt. Hannah L. Willger, 122nd Logistics Readiness Squadron. “I assumed it will be helpful to realize some extra abilities and information on what it actually takes to be a pacesetter, in addition to another belongings that I might make the most of.”
Networking and experiencing operations outdoors of their regular day-to-day operations is a big focus at ELS. Indiana’s ELS originated as an Indiana Air Nationwide Guard particular occasion, with 2022 being the primary yr with attendance from the Indiana Military Nationwide Guard and the Air Drive Reserves.
“If you wish to be part of this occasion sooner or later get on the planning committee, we’d like your concepts,” stated Air Drive Chief Grasp Sgt. Michael E. Dixon, Jr., command chief of the Indiana Air Nationwide Guard. “Troopers and reservists, we wish you on board to be a part of that planning committee too, so we will tailor it to a extra joint really feel.”
“I’ve by no means been to a management course that was outdoors of the Military, so I took an actual curiosity in [ELS] as a result of I would prefer to get different views,” stated Military Employees Sgt. Jenna Burks, thirty eighth Infantry Division. “I got here out with a brand new perspective on views from different branches perspective and the way in a different way we deal with some conditions.”
Through the symposium, service members took notes and engaged in discussions with key management from the state and nationwide ranges.
That listing included:
– Military Maj. Gen. R. Dale Lyles, adjutant basic of the Indiana Nationwide Guard.
– Air Drive Col. Charles T. Goad, commander of the 181st Intelligence Wing.
– Air Drive Col. Joshua C. Waggoner, commander of the 122nd Fighter Wing.
– Military Command Sgt. Maj. Dale A. Shetler, senior enlisted chief of the Indiana Nationwide Guard.
– Air Drive Chief Grasp Sgt. Michael E. Dixon, Jr., command chief of the Indiana Air Nationwide Guard.
– Air Drive Chief Grasp Sgt. Kenneth M. Bruce Jr., command chief of the sixteenth Air Drive (Air Forces Cyber).
– Retired Air Drive Chief Grasp Sgt. Christopher E. Muncy, former command chief of the Air Nationwide Guard.
A serious takeaway from the occasion was the entry to strategic degree management, stated Air Drive Chief Grasp Sgt. Kyle D. Hoopingarner, command chief of the 122nd Fighter Wing.
“These are these are individuals which might be sharing strategic degree considering tales from their degree and simply actually getting that up and out kind of considering. I believe plenty of our [service members] perceive why we do what we do, and understanding rising threats that we’ve got throughout the globe is an enormous factor that they get this week.”
The aim of ELS is for the subsequent technology of enlisted leaders all through the state of Indiana to refine their abilities, develop their community and add instruments to their management toolkit.
“They’re the long run,” stated Dixon. “We spent plenty of time speaking about change and innovation. That begins with them, it is not going to come back from a 49-year-old command chief. My innovation days are in all probability not close to what their potential is.”