Professional development workshop promotes teamwork, professionalism

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kerelin Molina
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE -DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Approximately 100 enlisted Airmen from the 514th Air Mobility Wing attended the Career Enlisted Workshop at the community center here Sept. 12-14.

The workshop consisted of a variety of classes and team-building exercises related to personal and professional development.

One of the classes focused on Air Force-specific writing of official memorandum, signature blocks, ranks and other aspects of professional correspondence. The instructor for this course was the wing vice-commander, Col. Michael Underkofler.

"I would like to make sure our Airmen know how to write for the Air Force based on format, content and style," he said.

Other classes included time management, resume writing, stress management and other professional and personal development classes.

One of the team exercises required Airmen to build a model aircraft from items that they had gathered throughout the course of the workshop. What made this exercise especially challenging was that the Airmen were unable to talk to one another. Once the aircraft were built, the teams competed to see whose aircraft flew the furthest. The exercise allowed Airmen to work together in teams while emphasizing creativity and nonverbal communication skills.

The workshop featured classes, lectures and exercises, but one of its primary benefits was getting enlisted members of various ranks - airman 1st class to master sergeant - to interact with one another.

"It allowed me to network, meet more people in the wing and gain a new perspective on working with groups," Airman 1st Class David Nonon, 42nd Combat Communications Squadron.

The workshop was hosted by Human Resource Development Counsel and supports their goals of improving outreach, retention, recognition, mentoring and reenlistment.

"The success of the workshop was defined by the fact that not one person left without learning something they can utilize in their personal and professional lives, more importantly they learned something about the Airmen that they work with." Col. Oreste Varela, 514th Maintenance Group commander.