Airmen walk in senior leaders' boots

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eight junior Airmen and civilians spent the day with Eglin's top leaders in different areas around the base - walking in their shadows. 

Officers, enlisted and civilian Airmen spent time with commanders during the Eglin Junior Force Council's Shadow Week program Jan. 26 through 30 to get a better idea what it's like walk in the shoes of a senior leader. 

"Shadow programs are very beneficial in helping younger Airmen get a glimpse beyond their work station," said Staff Sgt. Crystal Taylor, EJFC president. "This will hopefully broaden their perspective and increase their understanding of the Air Force and what part they play." 

Second Lt. Jennifer Lozano, 96th Mission Support Squadron personnelist, spent time in the shadow of a colonel who spent some time in the shadow of former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Even though he's been in the military for more than 20 years, Col. Rick LoCastro, 96th Air Base Wing vice commander, feels he has things to learn from the junior force under his command.

"The Air Force is changing quite a bit," said Colonel LoCastro. "It's not just senior leaders telling war stories. It's about sharing what's going on in today's Air Force."

According to Lieutenant Lozano, Colonel LoCastro has the "invaluable experience" Airmen are looking for. The two were able to swap stories about being in the personnel career field. 

Shadow Week, a quarterly program organized by Eglin's Junior Force Council, helps bridge the gap between Eglin's senior leaders and its junior forces by sharing Air Force experiences, life lessons and career choices. According to the intent of the program, shadowing a senior leader gives the junior force counterpart the opportunity to see their leader in action, as well as get advice on their own careers.

"I like to ask junior officers, 'If everything was possible, what would you want to do next in the Air Force,"' the colonel said. "Everything might not be possible, but let's assume it is -- what's on your dream sheet?"

It's the possibilities open to her in the Air Force that intrigued Airman 1st Class Gaby Akin, 96th Medical Support Squadron nutrition medicine diet therapist, to sign up and follow Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th ABW commander. She wanted to get a sense of what wing leadership does from day-to-day and have a better understanding of what goes on at Eglin beyond the hospital. 

"It's an amazing, overwhelming opportunity to realize how much (leadership) actually does," she said. "It makes you appreciate your leadership and the magnitude of the decisions they have to make." 

The colonel leads more than 20,000 military, dependents and retirees on and around the world's largest military installation of more than 724 square miles. He's responsible for providing all base operating support, infrastructure and services support for the Department of Defense's largest installation. 

Under the wing are four distinct groups and 20 squadrons and divisions; the Air Force's largest civil engineer war fighting unit and explosive ordnance disposal flight; the Air Force's largest supply function; the Air Force's fifth largest hospital, and the Air Force's largest transportation function in the continental United States. 

The 96th ABW also supports the Air Armament Center, six tenant wings and 45 associate units to include the Joint EOD Training Center, U.S. Army Ranger Training (6th Ranger Training Battalion) and the 20th Space Control Squadron. As Eglin installation commander, he also interacts with local officials across a three-county, nine city region with a military economic impact of $1.5B annually. 

Colonel McClintock and Airman Akin spoke at length about her personal goals in the Air Force and her education. They also went on a walkabout of facilities run by the 96th Communications Group. Plotting underground cables using a global positing system, digging trenches and splicing fiber optic cables were some of the hands on experiences Colonel McClintock and Airman Akin did with the "cable dawgs." 

During the mentoring session, they spoke of current issues Colonel McClintock and base leadership are dealing with concerning expansion of the base as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure list, the potential for assignment of the Joint Strike Fighter, housing, the close eye they keep on the budget and exercises to name a few. Most importantly for her, Airman Akin took away a piece of advice. 

"He also taught me to always put the people you serve with first," Airman Akin said. "He is truly inspirational and I consider myself very lucky to have gotten the chance to shadow him." 

"Mentoring" is a buzz word that leadership thinks should be a part of each supervisor's role in their daily routine to their subordinates. Mentorship is a byproduct of the program and is a step above and beyond for the young Airmen.

"Mentorship is a critical tool in growing Airmen in today's Air Force," said Sergeant Taylor. "The junior force can learn from the wisdom of our leaders. We can start with a more robust knowledge base from the beginning and therefore have the opportunity to go farther in our careers."

According to the charter for the junior force council, "the Junior Force Council members speak for the junior force at Eglin AFB, and serves as a bilateral communication channel between senior leadership and the junior force members. The EJFC will provide the Eglin junior force with a forum in which their ideas and recommendations will be listened to and discussed openly without fear of reprisal."

One day, it is inevitable the current junior force will, across different paths, transform into leaders. When that happens, they will be looking to train the younger generation to take their place.