JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- More than 200 Airmen from nine Pacific Air Forces’ (PACAF) installations attended the first semester of Pacific Paladin which was held physically at the Aloha Conference Center here, and virtually via WebEx, March 31.
Pacific Paladin is a new PACAF professional development platform focused on grooming staff sergeants through senior master sergeants. The platform creates an opportunity for deliberate mentorship through two-way discussions concerning bridging the gap between the tactical, operational and strategic levels of performance.
“The main purpose of this is to ensure when our enlisted folks come to the table – they are as prepared for that opportunity as possible,” said Chief Master Sgt. David Wolfe, PACAF Command Chief. “In the enlisted corps we need to be the trusted advisors to our bosses, so this is about helping our enlisted personnel better understand what we do.”
The course will tie in National Defense Strategy, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Strategy, and PACAF Strategy to provide insight and build understanding of how each level ties into the next, and how Airmen tie into the strategies through their roles and responsibilities.
“Hopefully, this will connect some dots for our folks out on the flight line turning wrenches; the fitness facilities ensuring people are staying healthy; or the access control points keeping our base secure – help them understand why they are doing those things,” said Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Ricks, PACAF Security Forces Operations superintendent. “This will provide an opportunity for that strategic level mentorship down to the tactical level, and provide a platform where they can communicate the challenges they’re seeing to the keynote speakers.”
Currently, the course is broken into four semesters consisting of one day each quarter, with each day focusing on one PACAF Priority: Diverse, Ready, Innovative, and Lethal. The goal is mold Pacific Paladin into a monthly course allowing members to immerse themselves in the topics continuously instead of a one-and-done approach.
“We want to make sure we are providing development opportunities throughout the year,” said Ricks. “This way our Airmen can hold on to it, internalize it and apply it. It allows them to get it more times throughout the year.”