Community members gain knowledge on day-to-day ops

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Redente
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Community members participating in the Leadership San Angelo program toured here to gain a better understanding of the mission training world-class firefighting and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance warriors April 10.

Leadership San Angelo is a nine-month program the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce organizes to help develop future business and civic leadership. The ties between Goodfellow and San Angelo are important not only because Goodfellow has the largest economic impact on San Angelo, but also due to the number of volunteers who assist in community events throughout the year.

The group included 18 men and women from across the community representing local businesses.

"So many citizens of San Angelo see Goodfellow from the outside looking in," said Sandra R. Pomroy, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce operations vice president. "Having the opportunity to tour and meet with the leadership on base is such an eye-opening experience."

Many of the members previously visited here before, but the tour offered insight on the base's mission and daily routines of services members.

"We enter with such gratitude, but leave with such heartfelt respect and appreciation," Pomroy said. "... the community involvement and impact they all have by giving of their time to so many area causes is admirable, and their commitment to our country is just priceless."

Col. Thomas L. Schmidt, 17th Training Wing Vice Commander, greeted the group as they entered the Wing Conference Room, before a wing mission brief. The brief provided an overview of the base including the operations of two dining facilities, which served more than 1 million meals in 2013.

For lunch, the group dined with service members at the Western Winds Dining Facility to see operations in action providing meals to students and permanent party members. The meal included socializing with commanders and senior enlisted leaders to discuss how similar organizations are ran within a military installation.

Leadership San Angelo's final stop provided an opportunity to see military students training at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy. Lt. Col. Derek R. Ferland, 312th Training Squadron Commander, briefed the group on day-to-day operations and requirements of the 312th TRS. The tour included entering a trainer filled with smoke and noises to gain an understanding of what DOD firefighters are required to complete before moving to their first duty location.

While the group was not allowed to enter the intelligence training facilities, Col. Brendan M. Harris, 17th Training Group Commander, provided an overview of the intelligence training that takes place within the 17th TRG.

"We follow a targeting cycle," said Harris as he described what the students at Goodfellow are learning. "Find, fix, target, track, engage, assess."

Harris also explained that more than 500 classes are taught on the base providing insight to the tour group on the vast training that takes place here for students straight from basic training to more advanced training for those who have served longer as ISR and firefighter professionals.

"I was also very impressed with the transparency of the answers our Leadership San Angelo group got from the presenters related to tough questions," said Emma M. Krabill, San Angelo Community Medical Center chief operating officer and Leadership San Angelo member. "It was good to hear Goodfellow Air Force Base's perspective on the issues at hand. All the answers were clear and open. We are very thankful to our military forces and want to support [them] in any way we can."

After visiting Goodfellow, the tour group later visited the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The group has two more months before the training is complete. To learn more about Leadership San Angelo, visit http://www.sanangelo.org/chamber/leadershipsanangelo.php. Application process for 2014 - 2015 begins in August.

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