Leadership attends Off-Site Commander's Conference

Keesler leadership participates in a small group discussion during the 81st Training Wing Spring 2018 Off-Site Commander’s Conference at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 2, 2018. The two-day event allowed senior leaders to step away from their day-to-day activities and focus on improving themselves as leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Leadership attends Off-Site Commander's Conference

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. David Pizzuto, 81st Security Forces manager, participates in a “getting to know you” icebreaker during the 81st Training Wing Spring 2018 Off-Site Commander’s Conference at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 2, 2018. Keesler leadership participated in the two-day event that allowed senior leaders to step away from their day-to-day activities and focus on improving themselves as leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Leadership attends Off-Site Commander's Conference

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Tanya Johnson, 81st Diagnostic and Therapeutics Squadron superintendent, reviews notes taken during a small group discussion during the 81st Training Wing Spring 2018 Off-Site Commander’s Conference at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 2, 2018. Keesler leadership participated in the two-day event that allowed senior leaders to step away from their day-to-day activities and focus on improving themselves as leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Leadership attends Off-Site Commander's Conference

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Julie Bottroff, 81st Medical Group superintendent, and Col. Jeannine Ryder, 81st MDG commander, participate in a personality assessment project during the 81st Training Wing Spring 2018 Off-Site Commander’s Conference at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 2, 2018. Keesler leadership participated in the two-day event that allowed senior leaders to step away from their day-to-day activities and focus on improving themselves as leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Leadership attends Off-Site Commander's Conference

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Nathaniel Huston, 333rd Training Squadron commander, participates in a personality assessment project during the 81st Training Wing Spring 2018 Off-Site Commander’s Conference at The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 2, 2018. Keesler leadership participated in the two-day event that allowed senior leaders to step away from their day-to-day activities and focus on improving themselves as leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Leadership learns mindfulness, tackles issues at off-site event

Published May 17, 2018
By Capt. David J. Murphy
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Leadership from across the 81st Training Wing along with a few invited guests, participated in an off-site event at the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Biloxi, Mississippi, May 2 - 3, 2018.

The two-day event featured presentations and classes dedicated to mindfulness training, stress management, team building exercises, a strategic plan overview, and wing priorities presentations.

The first day included a presentation by Lt. Col. Jannell MacAulay, 58th Special Operations Wing director of human performance and leadership, on mindfulness and mindful leadership. Mrs. Tania Bayne, Shanti Yoga & Counseling owner provided a course on stress management.

“Day one was really about taking the time to invest in our team. We focused on mindfulness, health, and well-being, it’s really the whole person-concept, giving them the tools to successfully navigate stressful life situations whether that’s on or off duty,” said Capt. Carissa Hoosline, 81st TRW commander’s action group director.

The second day included small-group discussions, group presentations, a review of the 81st TRW Strategic Plan and presentations related to wing priorities.

“We were excited to use the Dragon Chats concept which we recently rolled out. It was an opportunity to bring the entire wing leadership team together, in facilitated small group discussions, to talk big Air Force issues,” said Hoosline. “We targeted retention and recruiting, specifically things we can do or stop doing to get after it. That afternoon, the wing priorities were discussed from the last off-site. We wanted to check-in to see how we were championing and fostering the priorities, where we wanted to take them in the future and what we've accomplished since the last off-site. All the inputs will be used to adjust our strategic plan.”

The Dragon Chat discussions were facilitated by Vickie Gooch, 335th Training Squadron precision measurement equipment laboratory course academic flight chief.

“I thought it was great and I think the groups did a great job,” said Gooch. “They came up with some wonderful ideas and hopefully they will be pushed up to the Air Force level for the Air Force to take a look at with regard to retention and reenlistments.”

The event concluded with presentations from each group for Col. Debra Lovette, 81st TRW commander, showcasing the ways they’ve employed the wing’s revised vision, mission and priorities.

“I hope Team Keesler walks away feeling like they are invested in and valued,” said Lovette. “To see how everyone is contributing is amazing. It's very inspirational for all of us to sit here and listen to what you have done on or in your teams. We're going to continue to evolve and get better and better. I love how you all are working together and I'm very proud with what is being done for Keesler and the 81st TRW.”