JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Staff Sgt. Taylor Mogford, 433rd Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment supervisor, here, and his team presented their ideas for revamping logistics training at the virtual 2021 Logistics Officer Association Symposium, April 2.
During the 2019 LOA Symposium, the Aether Sprint program provided a platform where a source team of Airmen tackled topics originating from the “What frustrates you most about Air Force logistics?” concept.
According to LOA Symposium website, Aether Sprint is a platform for logistics Airmen (maintenance, munitions, and logistics readiness) to have a voice and solve day-to-day issues with Air Force-wide impacts.
While deployed in 2020, Mogford assembled a team of Reserve and active-duty members who chose to solve the topic of “Reduction of waste and time for training and certification for the Logistic Airman.”
Mogford joined the LOA in 2020 and attended seminars about innovation and revamping logistics which sparked the idea of applying to the Aether Sprint program.
He began the process in December 2020 by creating the team’s name, the Jackals, and recruiting members.
According to Mogford, his team first researched traditional Air Force training in logistics.
His team found that career development courses are outdated and needed to be refreshed; especially, with the creation of technical school education, which takes time that could be used for additional hands-on training, he said.
An avenue his team pursued to correct this is the International Society for Logistics, also known as SOLE. It provides skill level and certification evaluations of a member as they submit certifications, classes, training and conferences to the program.
“We want to evaluate the member and give the member more meaningful training,” said Mogford.
Mogford said SOLE already exists within the Army, Air Force and Boeing, and is a useful tool in evaluating skill level and setting precedents on training; however, it’s not a requirement for logistics Airmen to use.
“We can implement a way to solidify our current skill level and, add some value to it, where it’s recognized throughout the other services and industries,” said Mogford.
Next, Mogford’s team proposed an extended upgrade training time frame from 12 months to 24 months, allowing commanders to have more time to train their members and increase job proficiency.
“A very real byproduct that would come from this is a more deployment-ready Airman,” said Mogford. “Which then gives more resources, time and tools back to the officers.”
1st Lt. Rosario Genuardi, 433rd LRS senior logistics manager and Mogford’s mentor, said the revamping of training and certifications would allow officers to promote more hands-on training to increase the readiness of Airmen.
“I believe Mogford and his team are doing a great thing by thinking outside the box,” said Genuardi. “They are pushing us to innovate and think of the future, not only for our young Airmen, but what it could eventually provide for the Air Force.”
Mogford’s team directly reflects the total force concept. His team comprises of contractors, reservists and active-duty members, who are as follows: Master Sgt. Joselyn Leon Berdecia, Air Education and Training Command; Master Sgt. Amanda Nelson, 6th Combat Training Squadron; Master Sgt. Lee Davis and Senior Airman Deandra Sanchez, 437th Supply Chain Operations Squadron; Tech. Sgt. Anthony Gomez, 436th Supply Chain Operations Squadron; and Airman Michael Jimenez, 433rd LRS.
“Let’s get a win on the books for the logistics community and then at the end let’s say, ‘oh, by the way, this was a total force win,’” said Mogford.
Mogford’s overall goal is for this product to become a template for other career fields to use and adapt.
This is an ongoing project, he said, and it’s continuing to raise awareness of revamping outdated training and certifications. In order to implement change, the idea needs more buy-in and refinement, he said.
His now expanded team, called the “Jackals Network," continues to have weekly meetings to generate new ideas and perspectives. Network members include senior advisors and mentors from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and other joint service members.
“The meetings will continue to be able to drive that discussion, drive that support and hopefully raise enough awareness to be able to implement,” said Mogford.
The LOA symposium panel board established connections with all five teams to move forward with their ideas for future implementation.