Dyess holds first Superintendent Course

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class April McAnally
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Dyess Air Force Base held its first Superintendent Course at the 436th Training Squadron, Jan. 29-31. Approximately 13 senior noncommissioned officers attended the course who range from current, future and potential superintendents.

The course taught at Dyess was based on a course originally designed by Air Force Global Strike Command. The lessons were brought back to Dyess and a group of facilitators and mentors came together to modify the course to fit the base needs. The course included a superintendent’s handbook which incorporated additional reference guides and exercises that doubled the original handbook designed by Air Force Global Strike Command.

Col. Brandon Parker, 7th Bomb Wing commander, said the course is designed to breakdown information from across the base and provide some approaches and techniques to help superintendents on a day-to-day basis. With new information in hand, attendees have a chance to walk out of the course and be better equipped with their jobs.

The course included a chief panel and an Airmen panel that were both open to questions asked by the attendees.

“The Superintendent Course is mentorship from chiefs to new squadron superintendents,” said Senior Master Sgt. Adolfo Hernandez, a Superintendent Course facilitator. “The chiefs and mentors provide an insight of our new roles and responsibilities that the commanders and Airmen will depend on. The course brings real life experiences from mentors who can answer our questions and help prepare us for the increased responsibilities that come with being a squadron superintendent.”

This course helps future and current superintendents enhance their skills and sets expectations for attendees as they fill the superintendent role. This is an opportunity to better equip attendees so that they can take better care of the Airmen in their agencies.

In the past, superintendents had to rely on personal experiences, book guidance, Air Force Instructions, Professional Military Education knowledge, and learning as new situations arose. With this course, mentors from across the base are present to share their experiences and lessons, along with answering questions the attendees had for them.

“The course fosters – a more in-depth understanding for Air Force culture, mission, priorities, heritage, manpower, resource management, Airman development, and relationships from a superintendent’s perspective,” said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Truman, a Superintendent Course facilitator.

Those in attendance found the lessons to be beneficial, informative and valuable.

“The course enlightened me on the many responsibilities that a superintendent holds,” said Senior Master Sgt. Adrienne Warren, a Superintendent Course attendee. “It was great to network with my peers across the base. I think course content was value-added and is a must for any senior noncommissioned officer filling a superintendent role.”