JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The 360° Leadership Course is a complex, hands-on universal leadership course focused on enhancing senior leaders while providing important and necessary tools for leaders to manage and respond to various issues and challenges they may face.
Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, and Col. Peter Velesky, 502nd ABW and JBSA vice commander, in coordination with senior commanders and senior enlisted personnel will host a 360° Leadership Resiliency Skills Program workshop throughout JBSA.
The course was provided at the JBSA-Randolph Parr Club Sept. 10-14. At Arnold Hall on JBSA-Lackland, it will take place Oct. 22-26. At the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Community Center, the leadership course is scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 2.
The leadership course is a five-day, all-inclusive class that highlights important topics such as leadership, military values, self-care, stress and how to manage it, anger management, biofeedback, relaxation, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, humor and health, spirituality, couples and parent-child communication, conflict resolution, sex and relationships, journaling and sleep.
This course will also provide insight into sexual assault and domestic violence, financial management and planning, combat stress, post-traumatic stress, suicide prevention and alcohol management.
Along with psychological fitness, the leader’s course covers physical fitness as well. Physical training planning, injury prevention, pain management and nutrition are topics that can be explored.
While the course is typically geared toward NCOs, the leadership course can be adapted to target other groups as well. Generally, NCOs are the primary target because they have the greatest direct impact on the health and wellness of the unit. The NCOs are expected to implement the techniques and mentorship learned at the course to the troops they lead.
“The best part of this course, is giving NCOs the ability to take what they’ve learned and apply it to their own formations and offices,” Velesky said. “They’ll be able to see some of the same things they talk about in this course in their own people and now they will know how to reach out using these skills as a leader.”
Spouses are encouraged to attend the final two days of the course. It provides military spouses with information that can be beneficial in their personal lives and in their relationships. As community leaders, spouses can use this course to expand their own leadership abilities.
In order to attend the leadership course, an NCO is typically nominated by his/her commander or first sergeant.
“It is the only program that has been externally evaluated by the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury,” said Steve Salazar, a 360° Veterans’ Association member. “In 2012, they published a report with statistical evidence that the course improved sleep, reduced psychopathology and improved well-being.”
With around 60 courses conducted, more than 2,100 military members have participated since implementation in March 2010 and it is consistently rated as one of the best courses in military careers.