Dyess hosts first Total Force Leadership Development Program

  • Published
  • By by Senior Airman Austin Mayfield
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Members of Dyess Air Force Base hosted the Total Force Leadership Development Program here Nov. 8, 2017. The course was designed to help encourage and grow not only Airmen; enlisted, officer and civilians as leaders.

The TFLDP consists of specially-designed courses that mix commercial leadership tools with the Air Force core competencies and core values and is available for anyone on base who is looking to sharpen their skills and to become a better leader.

“The intention of this course is to grow people,” said Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Fleming, 7th Security Forces Squadron enlisted manager. “People like John Maxwell release concepts on how to be a leader, follower, team player or whatever that concept is based on and we bring that in and teach it to the attendees. They not only get to hear the concepts, they learn from the instructor’s personal experience and hear how it relates to a military environment.”

John Maxwell is a speaker and author who specializes on leadership and leadership development.

“My favorite part about the program is looking at the roster and seeing that there is every walk of life, from an Airman 1st Class to a Chief Master Sergeant, that are here trying to sharpen their skills,” said Master Sgt. Michael Doane, 436th Training Squadron aircrew flight equipment instructor. “It shows that there is a passion for leading, a passion for knowledge and understanding and people are attending to either get sharp, stay sharp or learn material.”

The course will be offered once a quarter to anyone for those looking to expand their leadership skills.

“We are trying to do the courses once a quarter,” Fleming said. “The training is scalable and can meet the needs of various sized units that may not be able to send Airmen to an all-day course.”

The participants found the course informative and motivating.

“When I first heard about this course I was a bit skeptical at first,” said Airman 1st Class Ryan Penn, 28th aircraft maintenance unit B-1B Lancer crew chief. “I thought it was going to be another ‘come in and listen’, boring kind of class. It was a lot more informative, interactive and upbeat than I thought it would be. It’s a really good class and I would recommend it to anyone looking to be a better leader.”