News Search

Ohio Air National Guard hosts its first-ever Enlisted Leadership Symposium

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Simones
  • 178th Wing
VIENNA, Ohio --  The Ohio Air National Guard hosted its inaugural Enlisted Leadership Symposium, July 23-27, at the Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Vienna, Ohio.

The symposium, focused on personal and professional development and relationship building, brought together 105 enlisted Airmen from across the state to enhance leadership skills and build bonds with one another.

“We were thinking about fun ways to bring our Airmen together from across all four of our wings in the state and do some leadership training all at the same time,” said the Chief Master Sergeant Thomas Jones, the Ohio Air National Guard state command chief. “The Enlisted Leadership Symposium was the perfect answer and we are already looking forward to next year’s event and the friendships that grow.”

The symposium was jam-packed with tools to develop enlisted members into strong future leaders. The event included a variety of guest speakers, leadership challenges, and open discussion forums with key Ohio Air National Guard leaders.

“We wanted speakers that would come in here and keep our members fired up,” said Jones. “This is all about making you passionate about leading people.”

In addition to meeting Airmen from other wings and units from around the state, Airmen participated in the Enhancing Human Capital course developed by the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence.

“It’s motivating and inspiring to be given the tools to inspire others,” said Staff Sgt. Adria Bivens, a Security Forces member with the 121st Air Refueling Wing. “Learning your ‘why’ can help other people find theirs,” said Bivens.

The Ohio Air National Guard has four individual wings, each with a different and unique mission along with six geographically separated units that are located across Ohio. Each unit provided insight about what makes their mission sets critical to the mission through several presentations.

Enlisted members were able to learn more about themselves and the Airmen that they serve during this impactful week of leadership training.