RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing hosted their second annual Squadron Leadership Orientation Course for incoming wing, group and squadron commanders, directors of operation, and superintendents at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, April 15-20, 2018.
The course focused on the 521st AMOW’s strategic priorities of developing Airmen and enhancing partnerships through the execution of Rapid Global Mobility.
In total, 24 current and future leaders of 15 units from 12 countries spanning over 5,100 miles attended 57 events and briefings throughout the week, where they explored a variety of topics including but not limited to: maintaining a healthy enlisted force, developing host nation relations, and legal operations at the unit level.
Even though leaders attending the event have not taken on their new positions within the 521st AMOW yet, this event provided them the knowledge to transition seamlessly while providing them with space to think critically prior to assuming their future roles.
“This event has been very successful because we were able to bring together incoming commanders, directors of operation, and superintendents to orient them with the various tools and personnel available as they become familiar with their new leadership role within the 521st AMOW,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. C.J. Thomsen, 521st AMOW action officer. “This course has given them a dedicated week to focus on what’s important in preparation for their new role.”
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Steven Roberts, 728th Air Mobility Squadron superintendent, agrees with Thomsen’s sentiment about the SLOC. With 20 years of experience between two AMOWs, Roberts was able to provide a unique perspective to the other attendees.
“I believe SLOC met and exceeded its goal of networking, team building, and educating the new commanders and duty officers for future operational success of the AMOW,” said Roberts. “As the key leaders throughout the military airlift system, we provide rapid global mobility worldwide to DOD customers. People count on us to get their cargo and passengers anywhere in the world. The cool thing about the airlift system is we all receive and provide customer service from each other. Therefore, these relationships are even more paramount and it helps to know the person on the other end of the phone. Whether it's coordinating a maintenance recovery team for a broken aircraft, critical cargo, or emergency leave passenger, we get it done. Our Airmen executing the mission is the magic in the airlift system that not many people know about -- they just know it gets there.”
The 521st AMOW is a component of Air Mobility Command and is headquartered at Ramstein. The wing is the lead representation for AMC across many installations in the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa and Air Force Central Command Area of Responsibility.