JB MDL chief select spouses attend mini leadership course

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jamie Powell
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Senior enlisted spouses from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center hosted a mini leadership course for spouses of chief master sergeant selects here Feb. 22.

Spouses who were not able to attend Air Mobility Command’s week-long Chief Leadership Course at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, were invited to a mini-course at JB MDL that offered professional development and resources that will be useful in their new roles.

“There was so much positive feedback from the course at Scott AFB that spouses here were expressing how they had wished that they had gone,” said Lisa Williams, the senior enlisted spouse on JB MDL and a spouse mentor for the AMC course.

This initiative began with the Air Force-wide effort to revitalize squadrons. The goal is deliberate development of chief master sergeants and their spouses, ultimately strengthening the command team.

"Spouses are the best deal the government gets," said Command Chief Master Sgt. Larry Williams, Expeditionary Center command chief. "They give their time, talents and resources because they're Airmen just like the rest of us whether they wear the uniform or not."

The mini course covered Military One Source resources along with military and family support center programs, as well as information about protocol and public affairs services on base.

“The course was invaluable,” said Trancye Foster, spouse of Senior Master Sgt. Cedric Foster, Squadron Superintendent with the 87th Civil Engineer Squadron. “During our military career, there was so much I felt didn't apply to me, and I never took the time to get to know what was available. Now I see that there is way more available to the spouses than I ever could have imagined.”

Along with Mrs. Williams, Julie Yevchak, spouse of Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Yevchak, 87th Air Base Wing command chief; Jackie Abell, spouse of Command Chief Master Sgt. David Abell, 621st Contingency Response Wing command chief; and Paula Roy, spouse of the 16th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, James Roy contributed to the course.