NCOs, civilian employees take part in 'one-of-a-kind' AMC leadership program Published Jan. 28, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Herard SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Since 1998, Air Mobility Command has sponsored a conference aimed at providing a select group of mid-level noncommissioned officers and civilian employees additional leadership skills and insight into each person's contribution to the air mobility team. Last week, 88 NCOs and civilians traveled to Scott AFB to attend the five-day PHOENIX STRIPE conference. According to AMC officials, PHOENIX STRIPE is a highly-selective professional development conference that provides attendees with an operational overview of all facets of AMC's global reach mission, a broad analysis of key issues impacting air mobility, and critical insight into each attendee's contribution to the total force air mobility team. Not only did this year's conference attract the largest number of attendees since the program was created more than 11 years ago, the class also had the largest number of Guardsmen and Reservists; a total of six each. This year's group also included 10 AMC civilian employees and eight Airmen from other Air Force major commands. Jim Domina, AMC Commander's Action Group and conference organizer, said in addition to many other benefits, the PHOENIX STRIPE conference fills an important gap in the NCO professional military development cycle. "There is no professional development, that I am aware of, between the NCO Academy and Senior NCO Academy," said Mr. Domina. During the conference, PHOENIX STRIPE attendees were briefed by several top AMC leaders, including Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., the commander of Air Mobility Command. Some of their other activities included a tour of the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, discussions with the AMC commander, vice commander and staff, as well as a panel with junior enlisted Airmen. They also participated in a panel discussion with senior members from each of the Armed Services (Army, Navy, and Marines), who shared their respective service experiences. Additionally, course curriculum included the book, "Lincoln on Leadership," by Donald T. Phillips, to help facilitate discussion points on leadership. "This program gave us a great insight on leadership, past, present and future, and learning how leadership is here for everybody, as well as the AMC objectives," said Tech. Sgt. Christa Collier, a PHOENIX STRIPE attendee and an Air Force Reserve Command recruiter. "We are all also doing a lot of networking." Throughout the course, Chief Master Sgts. Roxanne Santos and Larry Williams served as mentors to the course attendees. Chief Santos is the AMC Enlisted Education and Training chief, and Chief Williams is the 618th TACC superintendent. "This program is instrumental in turning a junior NCO into a senior leader by using an out-of-the-box approach to leadership," added Tech. Sgt. Bryan Mertzlufft, a PHOENIX STRIPE attendee assigned to the Headquarters AMC Logistics directorate here. According to Mr. Domina, the course has evolved over the years, primarily because of feedback provided on the last day of each session, but also because of the command's high deployment tempo. "This time, there was a focus on 'back-to-basics,' which is in line with what the secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff of the Air Force have asked," he said. At the end of the each session, participants were also provided an opportunity to submit questions for AMC leaders. "I think the most important part [of the conference] is that they learn how they help accomplish the mission and [they know that] without them it would not get done," said Mr. Domina. According to Mr. Domina, the highly competitive PHOENIX STRIPE conference is held three times every two years at Scott AFB. He also said AMC is the only Air Force major command that has a program like this.