Total Force Development Council bolsters Airmen, promotes resilience

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  There's an initiative on Barksdale dedicated to producing the best and brightest Airmen for tomorrow's Air Force and creating professional leaders across Team Barksdale.

The Barksdale Total Force Development Council is on a mission to deliver professional development through seminars, events and team-building exercises to enhance leadership, management and supervisory skills throughout the Barksdale community.

"Becoming a better leader is a daily process," said Senior Master Sgt. LaToya Edwards-Morgan, BTFDC chair and lead facilitator. "You have to grow into it, and this council is a vehicle by which people are allowed to obtain different skills and tools to become better leaders."

The BTFDC offers diverse courses that are an offset to professional military education, she added. The council has partnered with the Airman and Family Readiness Center, career advisor and the resilience program, to ensure a wide variety of classes are available.

"One method used to help develop leaders, is through our monthly Get Connected Forum, which is a place where Airmen of all ranks can come together and discuss important issues," she said. "We've discussed topics such as relationships, self-worth, personalities and others. We discuss things you might not typically talk about with your chain of command or within your work center."

The classes and programs are also a great opportunity for Airmen to come out of their comfort zones and experience something new.

"It's open to all Airmen who want to enhance themselves as far as being well-rounded, learn professional development and about the enlisted structure," said Senior Airman Ebonie Waller, BTFDC site administrator. "Airmen may be able to realize their potential and how they can reach new heights of success within the Air Force."

Another benefit to the BTFDC is its flexibility. The council has the ability to tailor a particular topic to a targeted audience and deliver it to the Airmen in their own work centers. The council will take professional development to the unit at the request of a commander, chief, superintendent or first-line supervisor, said Edwards-Morgan.

"Oftentimes, maintainers, defenders, shift-workers and other Airmen don't always have the time to leave their work centers due to manning or mission requirements," Edwards-Morgan said. "They potentially miss out on desired and necessary professional development that could increase their leadership skill set, which would enable them to become more equipped, stronger and productive."

By giving Airmen who work longer hours or night shifts an opportunity receive professional development training, BTFDC wants to give all Airmen a chance to become the best leader possible.

"Great leaders and supervisors weren't made overnight, and they didn't come with the rank earned or position held," Edwards-Morgan said. "They came through development, which is a process. The council wants to provide those skills over a long-term period. One of the biggest reasons we have this initiative is because we want the best and brightest leaders on Barksdale."

For more information or questions concerning upcoming events, contact the Barksdale Total Force Development Council at 2bw.tfdc@us.af.mil.