Airman Magazine: Developing Future Airmen

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As the Air Force confronts the EVOLVING DEMANDS of Great Power Competition, PRIORITIZING the evolution of TALENT MANAGEMENT is crucial.

The National Defense Strategy highlights the pacing threats posed by our adversaries, underscoring the need to cultivate and maintain a capable, adaptable force. Recruiting, developing, and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce ensures the U.S. Air Force can project airpower anytime, anywhere. 
 
To remain at the forefront of air superiority, the Air Force is implementing transformative changes across its talent management framework. These efforts include optimizing human capital strategies, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and ensuring training is closely aligned with mission requirements. Additionally, the Force is modernizing personnel systems to better match Airmen to roles that maximize their potential, support retention, and create flexible career paths responsive to operational needs. 
 
In this issue of Airman magazine, we explore how Air Force talent management serves as a cornerstone of force readiness and resilience. We visited Air University at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and spoke with leaders about major changes underway, including the reintroduction of warrant officers, redesigned training programs to develop character-driven leaders, and a renewed focus on digital skills to make data a reliable weapon. Through these initiatives, the Air Force equips Airmen with the skills and adaptability needed to meet today’s demands and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.  
 

 

The National Defense Strategy highlights the pacing threats posed by our adversaries, underscoring the need to cultivate and maintain a capable, adaptable force. Recruiting, developing, and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce ensures the U.S. Air Force can project airpower anytime, anywhere. 
 
To remain at the forefront of air superiority, the Air Force is implementing transformative changes across its talent management framework. These efforts include optimizing human capital strategies, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and ensuring training is closely aligned with mission requirements. Additionally, the Force is modernizing personnel systems to better match Airmen to roles that maximize their potential, support retention, and create flexible career paths responsive to operational needs.  

In this issue of Airman magazine, we explore how Air Force talent management serves as a cornerstone of force readiness and resilience. We visited Air University at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and spoke with leaders about major changes underway, including the reintroduction of warrant officers, redesigned training programs to develop character-driven leaders, and a renewed focus on digital skills to make data a reliable weapon. Through these initiatives, the Air Force equips Airmen with the skills and adaptability needed to meet today’s demands and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. 

 

 
 


"Since the dawn of airpower, our proud heritage in history has been intertwined with key events in combat that have shaped … a nation and in some cases, the world. Those are seminal events, but to me, what is more important are the times that preceded them. These are times of consequence. These are times when Airmen and air pioneers embodied what is running in our DNA – the spirit of innovation, vision, and courage. The actions of those Airmen in that time of consequence shaped those seminal events."

- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, Air and Space Forces Association 2024 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference
 

 
 
 

 

Air University (AU), headquartered at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, is the lead agent for Air Force education and develops Airmen to leverage air, space, and cyberspace power to achieve national security objectives. 

When it comes to developing Airmen, education and training are at the forefront, and AU is responsible for developing and vetting many of the professional military training courses necessary to build the Airmen we need.
 

 
 

Education vs Training

Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier, Air University command chief, and Dr. Yolanda Williams, AU provost and institutional accreditation administrator, discuss the differences between education and training and what each prepare Airmen to do.

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Report Ready

Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier, Air University command chief, and Col. Damian Schlussel, Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education commander, discuss the importance of discipline and being ready to train on day one.

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Air University (AU), headquartered at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, is the lead agent for Air Force education and develops Airmen to leverage air, space, and cyberspace power to achieve national security objectives. 

When it comes to developing Airmen, education and training are at the forefront, and AU is responsible for developing and vetting many of the professional military training courses necessary to build the Airmen we need.
 

 
 

From AETC to ADC

Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier, Air University command chief, and Dr. Yolanda Williams, AU provost and institutional accreditation administrator, discuss the significance of changing from Air Education and Training Command to Airman Development Command. 

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We Are All Warfighters

Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier, Air University command chief, David Bonner, AU chief historian, and Col. Damian Schlussel, Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education commander, explain why professional military education course curriculums must be relevant to every Airman's role as a warfighter.

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Why Things Matter

Col. Damian Schlussel, Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier, Air University command chief, discuss the significance of an all-volunteer force and the magnitude of every Airman's commitment to serve.

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Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier
 

CMSgt. Stefan Blazier

As the command chief, Blazier serves as the adviser to the AU commander on all matters affecting the quality, welfare, morale, readiness and leadership of service members assigned to more than 1,300 locations around the world.

Dr. Yolanda Williams
 

Dr. Yolanda Williams

Dr. Williams is the provost and institutional accreditation administrator for AU. AU provides the full spectrum of Air Force education, to include pre-commissioning programs for new officers to progressive, career-long professional military development for Total Force Airmen.

Col. Damian Schlussel
 

Col. Damian Schlussel

Col. Schlussel is the commander of the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education. The Barnes Center is named after the Air Force’s fourth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, the first African American to attain the highest enlisted position in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Senior Master Sgt. Kayleigh McAviney
 

SMSgt. Kayleigh McAviney

McAviney is the Warrant Officer Training School operations superintendent. WOTS is a 40-day in-residence accessions program designed to educate and train candidates with specialized knowledge and technical skills on how to serve as technical advisors to command leadership.

Mr. David Bonner
 

Mr. David Bonner

As the AU chief historian, Bonner is responsible for maintaining AU archives and chronicling the changes and events happening across AU. AU provides the full spectrum of Air Force education, to include pre-commissioning programs for new officers to progressive, career-long professional military development for Total Force Airmen.

Col. Eugene Moore III
 

Col. Eugene Moore III

As the commander of the Air Force ROTC Headquarters, Moore manages the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development which develops the curriculum for the 145 AFROTC detachments around the world. The Holm Center’s central mission is to develop leaders of character.

 

Why Things Matter

Col. Damian Schlussel, Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier, Air University command chief, discuss the significance of an all-volunteer force and the magnitude of every Airman's commitment to serve.

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"Digital literacy unlocks our ability to innovate and adapt in a rapidly changing world. It's the foundation of effective decision-making."

- Dr. Lisa Tripp, Command Analytics Officer and AI liaison for Air Education and Training Command


 
 
 
 

Digital Literacy: Vital Tools for the Great Power Competition

As the Department of the Air Force faces the increasing demands of modern warfare, it's working to equip Airmen with advanced skills in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity. To maximize the benefits of these tools, digital literacy-understanding how to use digital technologies to access, evaluate, and communicate information-is essential for both individual development and mission success. 

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Airman Leadership Qualities (ALQs), our current national, departmental, and service strategic guidance, as well as the lessons demonstrated throughout military history, strongly win the case that we need Airmen who:
 

￭ Possess a shared awareness of our challenges. 
￭ Are technologically and digitally literate.
￭ Comprehend, navigate, and deliver innovative solutions for complex problems.


Through deliberate development and education, all Airmen will have the opportunity to become mission ready and embody these qualities.

 
 

 
 

AFROTC

Col. Eugene Moore III, Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps headquarters commander, explains where AFROTC has come from and why lieutenants are being developed differently.

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Lieutenants of Character

Col. Eugene Moore III, Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps headquarters commander, manages the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development. The Holm Center’s central mission is to develop leaders of character. 

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Foundations Courses

Col. Damian Schlussel, Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Stefan Blazier, Air University command chief, explain the origins of the new Foundations courses and their role in deliberate development.

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Warrant Officer Ethos

Senior Master Sgt. Kayleigh McAviney, Warrant Officer Training School operations superintendent, and David Bonner, Air University chief historian, discuss the history and significance of Air Force warrant officers.

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"If you remember just two things from my presentation today, leaders, leave here with these. First, the threat is real. The threat is present. The threat is here now. Second, your duty, your obligation, your main thing is to set conditions for your Airmen to be successful."

- Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Flosi, Air and Space Forces Association 2024 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference


 
 
 
 
 
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