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AMOW prepares new leaders for command

  • Published
  • 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- More than 20 squadron leaders throughout the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing gathered here for an enhanced squadron leadership orientation course April 24. 

Inbound commanders, directors of operations, and superintendents from the AMOW’s two groups and ten squadrons, met to discuss a variety of topics that face today’s squadron leaders.

“This is my third command, but this is the first time I’ve been through a squadron commanders course like this,” said Lieutenant Colonel Clint Varty, future commander of the 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron in an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. “It was a phenomenal opportunity to learn about the 521st AMOW with my director of operations and my superintendent right next to me. Knowing I can walk into my new command with those relationships already in place means we can hit the ground running.”

In addition to building relationships, the five-day course included education on manpower, host installation partnerships, and understanding available helping agencies. Attendees also learned about the 521st AMOW’s three core competencies: aircraft maintenance, aerial port, and command and control.

“When I took command of the AMOW my learning curve was really steep,” said Col. Thomas Cooper, 521st AMOW commander. "The way the AMC team operates in USAFE and AFCENT takes a different set of knowledge and skills that our commanders had to learn on the fly. As this became a common thread, I knew if we prepared the leadership on the technical aspects of their units, strengthened the early teamwork, and built trust up and down the chain, we could get our leaders out in front leading Airmen sooner and better.”

With 15 units spanning 12 countries and 5,100 miles, it was critical that squadron leadership teams throughout the wing gather together to learn about leading in the en route.

The 521st AMOW is part of Air Mobility Command, despite most of its units being located on United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Force Central Command installations. As the sole AMC representation on these installations, commanders within the AMOW develop close working relationships with their host wing counterparts to care for their Airmen and keep the mission moving.

Each of the 26 topics within the SLOC aligns with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein’s focus area of revitalizing squadrons.

“General Goldfein has given us direction as wing commanders to reinvigorate our squadrons.  His team has already identified that strong and ready leadership at the squadron level is critical to this goal,” Cooper said.  “This program has us on course to put smart, connected, and trusting leadership teams at our locations and to make our already strong en route air mobility units stronger.”

The 521st AMOW plans to continue hosting the squadron leadership orientation course annually in an effort to encourage communication, growth, and development for leadership teams.