JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The 37th Training Wing Rising VI Council has an ambitious agenda, despite being formed less than a year ago. Several of its members and other base personnel participated in the council’s first immersion tour March 18 in the hopes of being able to network with all mission partners.
According to Staff Sgt. Brandon Vazquez, Rising VI sergeant at arms, the council is comprised of enlisted Airmen with shared goals of improving the enlisted experience across the 37th TRW.
“The purpose of the 37th TRW Rising VI is to offer career development, mentorship, community involvement and leadership training, all in a one-stop-shop,” said Vazquez, who is assigned to the 323rd Training Squadron. “Our goal is to establish a closer link between mission partners throughout the wing.”
Other organization officers are Tech. Sgt. Cameron Figueroa, 737th Training Group, president; Tech. Sgt. Gabriel Mier, 321st TRS, vice president; Tech. Sgt. Autumn Murphy, 344th TRS, treasurer; and Tech. Sgt. Chaunte Thompson, 321st TRS, secretary.
Vazquez said the immersion tours will help the council members get a clearer understanding of the 37th TRW mission and vision statement.
“I think the overall tour was a success,” Figueroa added. “The future of our group is to create more opportunities for Airmen assigned to the 37th TRW whether that be motivational speakers or fostering more mentoring sessions. What we realized is that in order for events like this to take place and grow a successful organization it takes a full unity of effort to rally behind a cause.”
Stops along the tour included a 37th TRW briefing, attending a Basic Military Training graduation, tour a BMT dormitory, the 344th TRS, Defense Language Institute English Learning Center, and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy. During lunch, they were able to ask questions of a leadership panel that included: Lt. Col. Clifford Anderson, 637th International Support Squadron; Lt. Col. Carlos Hernandez, IAAFA; Lt. Col. Matthew Kowalski, 341st TRS; Lt. Col. John Marx, 331st TRS; Lt. Col. Jeffrey Simmons, 37th TRW; and Lt. Col. Raymundo Vann, 323rd TRS.
For more information about Rising VI, contact any of the organization's officers.