JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH,Texas –
Team Randolph’s Airmen’s Council is an organization of Senior Airmen and below, whose purpose is to help Airmen succeed in military life. TRAC offers volunteer opportunities, provides professional development knowledge, connects Airmen to leaders on base, and organizes fun events for Airmen to attend.
On Monday August 6, 2018, TRAC held its first Airmen’s Call in more than 10 years, in the Fleenor Auditorium on Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
The week before, Master Sgt. Winsome Culley, Air Force Personnel Center Assignments Policy & Procedures, contacted TRAC board members to address issues that were brought up by Airmen at a Senior NCO mentoring panel.
Together, TRAC and Culley, who was the creator and former advisor for TRAC, decided that a call with every single Airman on base was needed to get their input and provide them with reassurance from higher up.
“Previously, a SNCO mentoring panel was conducted with a few Airmen.” Culley said. “During this panel, eight out of 16 Airmen addressed issues varying from toxic leadership to NCO/SNCO trust issues. I further explained to the group it was time we took the first step as leaders to remedy them.”
Culley wanted to show the Airmen that the leaders on base, and in the Air Force, are here for them and care about their needs.
“I asked the question: When was the last time we had all of our Airmen in the room and talked to them to reassure them that we have their backs and we are in this fight WITH them?” Culley said about his Top 3 meeting.
This call also provided an opportunity to interact with some of the youngest Airman on base.
“The one thing that I believe in doing at this job, or any job that you're supervising and leading other people, is being approachable,” said 12th Flying Training Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Antonio Goldstrom. “I'm showing that I understand their needs and their concerns. Through that you develop a sense from them that you're approachable and they can come to you if they need anything. It also establishes credibility.”
TRAC leaped at the chance to open up more possibilities for and provide information to Randolph Airmen.
“The Team Randolph’s Airmen's Council took action.” Culley said. “There was a problem that needed to be addressed and instead of waiting on someone else to resolve it, they stepped up with a vision and truly personified Airmen helping Airmen. I am truly proud to see this group in action and words can't express how wonderful it feels to see TRAC in good hands.”
Along with Profession of Arms Center of Excellence, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Air Force Recruiting Services and Culley himself, TRAC also had the honor of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force #5, Chief Gaylor to speak to the Airmen and share his experiences.
“Always amazing to see Chief. He is just as inspiring as he was when I was an Airman. It was a rare opportunity for our E-4s and below to see one of our Air Force treasures first hand.” Culley said.
Numerous people who have heard Chief Gaylor speak at functions can agree about how well he tells his Air Force story.
Goldstrom said, “He is honestly and sincerely one of the best storytellers I've ever listened to. You take his experiences and now you have a link to the past and you have a connection to how we might have done things or where we came from. Because, I think you can't go forward until you fully understand where we came from. He's just a treasure to us, and I'm thankful that he's so gracious with his time.”
To top off the call, Culley even had his past mentors and leadership attend as well.
“I feel the Airmen’s Call helped the Airmen by giving them a certain expectation for not only themselves, but for their higher ranking officials and the Air Force as a whole,” said Airman 1st Class Myles Malone, a helpdesk technician with the Communication System Squadron. “So when they go back to work, they know what they need to do to achieve that expectation.”
Culley hopes to see unity between the ranks in the future after this call.
“This was how the past, present and future come together and make magic happen. We can't do it without each other,” said Culley.
Along with that, Goldstrom hopes to create innovation through discussions like this.
“I want Airmen to respectfully challenge the status quo. Respectfully challenge the ways of doing business. If you have a better way, I want to hear it. We may not always follow it, we may take pieces of it, but I think that's where innovation truly lies. Is taking something that we have and making it better through your eyes,” said Goldstrom.
More than 100 Airmen participated in the call and the team looks forward to greater numbers in future calls.
Malone said, “What I took away from the Airmen’s Call is that with time, dedication and mutual trust with your team you can achieve anything in the Air Force.”