SAN ANGELO, Texas -- 17th Training Wing leadership, including commanders, senior enlisted leaders and agency chiefs from across the wing, convened for a strategic planning offsite in the Houston Harte University Center at Angelo State University April 16-19.
The 17th Training Wing comprises the 17th Training Group, 517th Training Group, 17th Mission Support Group and 17th Medical Group. In addition to Goodfellow Air Force Base, the 17th TRW maintains a presence at four geographically separated units: Defense Language Institute Washington in Virginia, Corry Station in Florida, Fort Huachuca in Arizona and Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Presidio of Monterey, California.
The four-day leadership offsite allowed representatives from across the wing to collaborate on plans for the future of the 17th TRW.
“While we all are in different groups, whether at the wing level or squadron, a lot of the things that we all see need to be fixed,” said Col. Angelina Maguinness, 17th Training Wing commander. “So I think it's really exciting. There are a lot of folks in here who are just thinking about the challenges that we have in front of us in very innovative ways. If we work together as a team, remembering that we're all in this together and grow together, we will be able to solve any problems we encounter.”
During the offsite, leaders discussed communication tactics, reflected on career progression, reviewed strategic priorities, proposed command initiatives training and engaged in team-building events.
“I learned a lot of tips and tricks from our facilitator on how to think strategically and have the right mindset,” said Chad Dowell, 17th TRW executive director. “The right processes, to make sure the conversations and the development of our strategic plan are right.”
When leaders invest their time in collaborative events like the one offered by the 17th TRW, they can separate the daily mission to focus and align all wing compartments. These events also allow team-building activities and interactions that create stronger partnerships.
“Once we got through some of the common goals, we started to throw together some more radical ideas, and it turns out a lot of other people have those ideas too,” said Maj. Justin Moore, 17th Comptroller Squadron commander. “So my big takeaway is that when you think you're outside of the box, you're probably still in it and you need to think even a little more unconventionally.”