81st MDG participates in leadership course

Published Jan. 30, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mosness
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- "One of the most important things you do as a leader can't be measured easily and that is the difference you make in an Airman's life," said Col. Thomas Harrell, 81st Medical Group commander, at a flight chief course Jan. 14-15 at the Bay Breeze Event Center.

Approximately 90 81st MDG members and 10 spouses attended the two-day leadership development course.

"We are hosting a flight commander, flight chief and spouse course to intentionally mentor that level in our organization," Harrell said.

More than 1,600 man hours went toward the leadership course, but Harrell explained the outcome merits the cost.

"It is worth their time to be here because it is an investment in who they are, and it gives them the tools to execute and be good leaders," the colonel said. "The most important thing they do is going to be really hard to measure and that is their investment in another Airman."

The course consisted of sessions with 81st MDG leadership and other support agencies on base. There were also briefings on funding, logistics and resource management.

"The medical world is different because our flight commanders and chiefs often come to the position at higher ranks because they spend their early years perfecting their medical skills," the 81st MDG commander explained.

"This leads to flight commanders and flight chiefs being put into first-time leadership roles as majors or lieutenant colonels with less organizational exposure... they have to not only execute the mission and deliver their craft medically, but also lead people," he added.

This is the second time Harrell has hosted the course he designed with his wife.

"My wife and I became aware the first formal training you get in the medical arena to be a commander is generally at the squadron level and subsequently at the group and wing level," he added. "There were a lot of things we were told as a squadron command team that we wish we had known at a flight command level."

So the couple always promised themselves if they were ever in a position to give out the information earlier they would, Harrell added.

Despite this training being the first for many, he said his people find a way to get the job done well.

"Though they are essentially thrown into the deep end, they find out the information," he continued. "It is amazing the way they execute the way they do."

The course aimed to give the tools and information now as opposed to being learned in the school of hard knocks.

"If we give them the information now they can actually improve themselves and the organization," Harrell described. "There's a lot they can do to help out the organization, and we need to be intentional about mentoring them.

"You can help the individual, which helps the organization," he explained. "Reinforcing key components of being a leader is investing in the person next to you."

Those in attendance felt that investment, explained one participant.

"What I found unique to this course was that the information was presented in a tailored fashion for the local unit and specific to a medical group audience," said. Maj. Edward Crane, 81st Medical Support Squadron information systems flight commander.

Spouses were encouraged to attend the course, which Harrell's wife emphasized as an important aspect.

"No spouse fits a specific mold, but they each bring something unique to the table," she said. "I have come to realize we are a team."

Harrell highlighted the importance of spouses and their role in an Airman's life.
"We are a command team," he continued. "She moves in circles that I don't work in."

Though the duo work in different groups, they always come to the same conclusion.
"Bottom line is it's about the people," Harrell's wife explained.

Another takeaway of the course was networking with peers, which is one of the goals of the program, Harrell said. Individuals were specifically seated next to people they didn't know to drive conversation with each other.

"Having the opportunity to spend time with fellow flight commanders across the group allows common challenges to be identified," Crane explained.

A lot of information was processed in two days, but the true takeaway was Airmanship, explained Crane.

"No matter if you are a physician, nurse or administrator . . . you are an Airman first!"