Leadership Pathways courses go paperless Published March 14, 2014 By Senior Airman Madelyn Brown 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- In the Air Force, the "change is the only constant" idiom has proved itself truthful throughout generations of Airmen. Air Mobility Command has created a system intended to develop Airmen and family members with a fortitude that can withstand and cope in an environment of constant change. Leadership Pathways, a series of strategic courses adopted by AMC in 2012, offers classes that fall into one of the four domains of Comprehensive Airman Fitness: mental, physical, social and spiritual. "We are pushing to make a change of culture and by gaining the knowledge and skills that are offered through Leadership Pathways," said Wes Yancey, 60th Air Mobility Wing Community Action Information Board director. "We can build and sustain an Air Force community that is resilient and has the capability to thrive and grow in any challenge." Classes are available for Airmen and family members covering topics of healthy living, healthy family relations, child and teen rearing, finance, physical fitness and relationship building skills among many others. According to Yancey, active participation in these courses not only helps the individual Airman, but strengthens the total force. "There was a stigma associated with these classes based on the false concept that a problem exists when you attend one of these classes," Yancey said. "We need to change the focus from being negative or problem based to putting the attention on the positive leadership development and self-help that can be achieved." Each course provides the attendee with a number of credits. The more credits acquired, the higher an individual climbs in title and recognition. "Earning 10 credits will give individuals the Wingman level, 20 credits is Leader level, and 30 credits is Warrior level," Yancey said. Wingman, Leader and Warrior levels earn the recognition of group commander, wing commander and AMC commander recognition, respectively. Staff Sgt. John Paolo De Castro, 60th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of enlisted promotions, has taken 13 Leadership Pathways courses and attained the Leader level. He attends Leadership Pathways courses with a team of people and is always looking for new Airmen to join. "Most of us as Airmen and individuals have something in our lives we can improve and Leadership Pathways has a course for whatever you're looking for," De Castro said. "Self-improvement isn't mandatory, but the courses are free and there's nothing to lose." For the Philippine native, fitness and nutrition were the areas he chose to improve upon. At one point in his career his Physical Fitness tests were scored at 85, he said. "Last PT test I scored a 97.9," he said. "I'm always looking to apply the information I learn from Leadership Pathways. I'm always pushing people to take the classes because even if you don't need to improve upon physical fitness, there's a class of a different subject that can help you." Currently, the Leadership Pathways program is transferring from an all-paper tracker to an online version, which will facilitate Airmen with registering, signing up for courses, and keeping track of credits and levels achieved. "By the end of 2014, I would like to see 60 percent of the installation population reach "Wingman" status in the tiered recognition of Leadership Pathways," Yancey said. To register with the new system, visit https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/4ylkl1cq.