JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Col. John Goodson III took the reins of the 37th Training Group from Col. Joyce Storm during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland July 22.
Col. Lauren Courchaine, 37th Training Wing commander, presided over the ceremony and highlighted the diverse missions that the 37th TRG has, including the largest career field in the Air Force – security forces -- and how training Airmen is vital to building multi-capable Airmen.
“In this era of strategic competition, the 37th Training Group is crucial as we build multi-capable Airmen and prepare agile combat employment,” Courchaine said. “It’s the foundation of training that we do here that will enable us to be successful as we execute on the Chief of Staff, the Secretary, and the Secretary of Defense's guidance for how we will prosecute against our adversaries.”
Courchaine also congratulated Storm on her tenure and thanked her for her commitment to increasing the resiliency of the group’s instructors, students and personnel.
“Col. Storm came into this command position two years ago with a vision to take care of people and to ensure that the Air Force would never falter,” Courchaine said. “I think she’s executed on that wonderfully. She articulated that vision up and down the chain of command and executed it relentlessly to get us to where we are here today.”
Goodson took the podium, addressed his group for the first time, and thanked all his guests in attendance and voiced his and his family’s excitement to be back under the Air Education and Training Command.
“I cannot express to you how excited I am to be back in the training environment,” he said. “I believe that the training mission is the most demanding mission the Air Force has. We have got to get it right.”
Addressing Storm, Goodson also said, “The 37th Training Group is in amazing shape because of your leadership and your efforts. I really just have to keep building upon the momentum that you started.”
Prior to becoming the new group commander, Goodson was the director of business operations for the secretary of the Air Force in Washington D.C.
The 37th TRG, with its approximately 1,600 personnel from all four military services, provides professional and technical training to more than 36,000 military members and civilians from the armed forces, federal agencies and the international community.