Senior NCO's gain more tools through the Senior NCO Leadership Course

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Seybert
  • 911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa --  In the first Senior Non-commissioned Officer Leadership Course hosted by the 911th Airlift Wing since 2008, 30 uniformed members graduated including 26 personnel assigned to the 911 AW, a member from the 316 Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Navy Operational Support Center Pittsburgh, 171st Air Refueling Wing and an Air Force Reserve Command recruiter.

The two-day class consisted of 11 different modules, which revolved around helping Senior NCO's become better leaders and mentors.

Throughout the course, students explored trust, teamwork and communications; three key leadership skills.

During module seven, Chief Master Sgt. Brian L. Zator, 911 AW command chief, spoke to the students about the importance of the Air Force Core Values as well as Career Progression and Development.

He also spoke about the importance of one-on-one mentoring and how it is still an effective tool to use and shouldn't be forgotten in the digital age.

"The senior NCO's attending this course will now have more tools in their toolbox to be a better, more effective leader that the military is asking them to be," said Zator.

Students participated in different activities, where they needed to put these tools to use in order for their team to win the activity. 

In the creativity module, students created a new aircraft and explained what its mission would be and the impact it would have on the U.S. Air Force.

During this module, students had to use teamwork to come up with the idea and trust each other to do their part.  They also had to communicate with one another to help make the idea into a total team product, incorporating all three leadership skills the course stresses.

"The group activities really helped make us work together as a team and learn the information in that section while having fun," said Master Sgt. Michael Bevan, 911 AWNCO in charge of safety. "I think the course was very useful and successful in helping us senior NCO's become more effective leaders and I would highly recommend anyone eligible for the course to attend."