Enlisted professional development seeks early Air Force memorabilia

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The U.S. Army Air Corp uniform displayed in the halls of the Enlisted Professional Development Center here has a story to tell - a story of yesterday's leadership building tomorrow's leaders.

Senior Master Sgt. Grant Dugre, 96th Air Base Wing career assistance advisor, and Master Sgt. Lisa Buckman, Airman Leadership School flight chief, are collecting early Army Air Corps and Air Force memorabilia to display in the halls of the EPDC.

"We have so many young enlisted people who come through here," Sergeant Buckman said. "It important for them to know that (being in the Air Force) is not just a job. They are part of a family now."

For the Air Force, their family heritage dates back to the early days of the Army Air Corps established in 1927. It's the story of this extended family that the leadership in the EPDC wants Airmen to see first hand.

The EDPC houses the First Term Airmen Center, Airman Leadership School and NCO and Senior NCO professional education as well as career assistance advising. Airmen from the grades of airman basic through master sergeant enter those halls on a daily basis.

"We are trying to build leaders from the beginning," Sergeant Dugre said. "To find out where you're going, you have to know where you've been. We are setting Airmen in the right (direction) to succeed."

In training and preparing Airmen for their future responsibilities, Sergeants Dugre and Buckman are looking for pre-modern Air Force memorabilia beginning with World War II and including Vietnam, Korean War and early 1980's items; they searching for things such as flags, uniforms, patches, boots, photos and as many other things they can find to help them teach the Air Force heritage to the men and women who train inside their classrooms.

"People are nostalgic for a time and place they have not been when they see an old military uniform or photograph," Sergeant Dugre said.

The uniform displayed in the halls at the EPDC could have a thousand different stories to tell, depending on who looks at it. As if it were a movie playing in their heads, the story could be how the Army Air Corps tripled in size after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It might even tell the story of a pilot who flew many missions throughout the war. It might tell of a heroic group of men who flew what they thought would be a one-way trip over Japan. Or it may tell the story of man who stormed the beaches of Normandy and never returned home.

The stories told could have endless possibilities all ending in the same result - happy or sad ending - with a story of pride and sacrifice. It's this pride and sacrifice that the instructors at the EPDC school house want to impress upon all the Airmen who enter their doors for Air Force training.



For more information on how to sell, donate or loan early era Army Air Corp and Air Force memorabilia, call Senior Master Sgt. Grant Dugre at 882-2449 or Master Sgt. Lisa Buckman at 882-2550, or e-mail them at grant.dugre@eglin.af.mil and lisa.buckman@eglin.af.mil.