New CGO course to fill professional development gap

  • Published
  • By Corey Dahl
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Several company grade officers graduated from Peterson's first CGO professional development course April 4, marking the start of an effort to provide better leadership training for Airmen here.

One civilian and 17 CGOs participated in the two-day seminar, which covered topics such as leadership qualities, readying for deployment and the enlisted evaluation system. Participants also lunched with Col. Jay Raymond, 21st Space Wing commander; chatted with panels of chief master sergeants and squadron commanders and conducted a mock promotions board.

"We really emphasized leadership qualities - things like how to develop as a leader, how to encourage the people who work for you to become leaders, why it's important to join professional organizations," said Lt. Col. Robert Romer, 21st Mission Support Squadron commander and organizer of the training.

The course is meant to fill the professional military education gap that occurs for officers between the Air and Space Basic Course, for newly-commissioned officers, and Squadron Officer School, for captains with at least four years of commissioned service.

"I really got some exposure to areas of leadership that I probably wouldn't have learned from my day-to-day on the job," said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Simmons, 21st SW staff, after attending the course. "I learned some things not covered extensively in ASBC."

The training will be held on a quarterly basis from now on, with a goal of about 25 participants at each course, Colonel Romer said.

"We just saw a need, and this should bridge that gap," he said. "They need something to get them back on track with professional development, get them reacquainted with leadership traits."

Speaking at the course's graduation, Colonel Raymond said the training would be part of a larger attempt to help develop young CGOs here.

"We are asking more of our CGOs today than I've ever seen in the 20-some years I've been in the Air Force," he said. "But CGO development is really lacking. This is a first step in a much broader effort to provide better development opportunities for our CGOs."

At least one of the course's participants, 2nd Lt. Christopher Suhar, with the 721st Security Forces Squadron at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, said he appreciated the extra development opportunity. The training gave him a chance to review the leadership qualities he learned in commissioning training, but, this time, with the additional benefit of years of on-the-job experience.

"It was pretty much a reinforcement of officer basics, but with a lot of added perspective," he said.

 

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