GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Maj. Gen. Andrea Tullos, 2nd Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Joanne Bass, 2nd Air Force command chief master sergeant, visited Goodfellow Nov. 19 through Nov. 21 to get a sense of the training operations here. This was Tullos’ first visit to Goodfellow as the 2nd Air Force commander.
Tullos and Bass were given an in-depth look at the 17th Training Wing mission. Both participated in an Active Learning Demonstration, created to sustain a culture of active learning.
They were given a tour of many base facilities to obtain a greater understanding of Goodfellow’s vital training mission and its importance within Air Education and Training Command.
Along the tour, Tullos coined base personnel for their outstanding service to the mission. Among those coined was Senior Airman Damion Davis, 17th Security Forces Squadron installation patrol, who was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal in October for providing first aid to victims of a September stabbing at a local nightclub in San Angelo.
“Preparedness is a crucial skill for our Airmen,” said Tullos while speaking with Davis. “You never know when you will be needed and it can make all of the difference.”
Tullos received a Wing Mission Brief at 17th TRW Headquarters where she learned about Goodfellow’s mission to train, develop and inspire exceptional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and fire protection professionals for America and her Allies.
Following the briefing, the tour proceeded to the Event Center where Tullos and Bass spoke with students and learned about the innovations in training that are being implemented within the training squadrons. This includes the Active Learning Demonstration for faculty development and student success and the Mental Fitness Obstacle Course where students combine physical training with cognitive tasks to test their physical and mental skills through various challenges.
“You’re going to have challenges in whatever career you have, but you will have more successes and rewards serving in the U.S. Air Force,” said Bass. “As you go through this journey, the people on your right and left are what are going to see you through.”
Afterwards, they continued on to the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, the DoD’s training source for Fire Emergency Services and Scientific Applications Specialists.
After touring the Fire Academy and the Special Instruments training facilities, Tullos and Bass shared a lunch with Goodfellow non-commissioned officers before continuing on a tour of the 313th, 315th and 316th Training Squadrons responsible for developing innovative enlisted, officer, civilian, and joint service ISR professionals.
The following day, Tullos and Bass were given a look into student quality of life during a walk-through of a student dormitory. They then toured the facilities of the Vance Deployment Center before attending the Warrior Auxiliary Specialized-Training Program Demonstration focused on developing a more lethal force.
Finally, they returned to 17th TRW Headquarters for a round-table discussion with Goodfellow’s squadron commanders and an out brief provided by wing leadership.
This visit gave Tullos and Bass a closer look at how Goodfellow Airmen have incorporated innovative thinking and are working toward a common goal of mission-readiness and connectedness throughout the base.