517th Training Group stands up at Presidio of Monterey, Calif.

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Musal
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A new chapter in the history of greater Team Goodfellow opened May 15 with the stand-up of the 517th Training Group at the Presidio of Monterey, Calif.

The training group will provide local leadership to more than 1,000 Airmen in the 311th and 314th Training Squadrons and Air Force mentorship to the Defense Language Institute, with a clear chain of command leading back to the 17th Training Wing here at Goodfellow Air Force Base.

Taking command of the new group was Col. William Bare, formerly the commander of the Air Force Element, a predecessor to the 517 TRG.

"You and I are members of the newest group, the newest unit in the United States Air Force," Col. Bare told students and instructors during the stand-up.

"A couple of years ago, this was the largest squadron in the Air Force," Col. Bare said later, referring to the 311th Training Squadron which used to handle all Airmen assigned to DLI. Last year, the squadron split in half and the flag of the 314th Training Squadron was moved from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., to the Presidio.

"Although the 17th Training Group at Goodfellow has done a great job supporting the Air Force DLI students," Col. Bare said, "the two squadrons here at the Presidio have a unique set of challenges. We are located on an Army post and supported locally by an Army garrison, on whom we depend for facilities, infrastructure, food and lodging," he added. "All this time, there was a senior Air Force person here as the Assistant Commandant who was not in these Airmen's chain of command." All that, Col. Bare said, changed May 15.

"Now, having the group commander, and also very importantly a chief master sergeant as the group superintendent, located with the two squadrons at the Presidio provides unity of command and more effective command and control of the students, the squadrons and the missions," Col. Bare said.

"That mission," he added, "is providing foreign language training to our young Airmen and ensuring the 'Airmanization' of our non-prior service students. They're in an Army environment and see civilian instructors all day, so we want to make sure they train as Airmen and focus on the Air Force mission the entire time they're here." That linguist mission, the commander added, is at the forefront of our current operations.

"Now, more than ever, the training of Airmen in a foreign language and culture is important," Col. Bare said. "As we become more dependent on 'soft power' and diplomacy to acheive success in our military operations worldwide, all our Airmen need a better understanding of foreign cultures and foreign languages."

Providing for that training is the key reason for the group stand-up, and as usual, Team Goodfellow is ahead of the curve.

"Colonel Ayres, the wing and the Air Force realized about two years ago the benefits of having a group out here," Col. Bare said. "It's taken a while to come to fruition, but this will be a great thing for our Airmen."