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Community leaders: students for a day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madison Collier
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  

The 17th Training Wing’s newly appointed honorary commanders attended a 17th Training Group immersion on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Jan. 12.  

The day started with a visit to the San Angelo Country Club to attend the 17th TRG annual awards ceremony and enjoy breakfast with Goodfellow members before heading to base and begin immersing themselves in a day of the life of a technical training student.  

Pam Callan, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, claps during 17th Training Group annual awards ceremony at the San Angelo Country Club, San Angelo, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commanders started their day off with the opportunity to interact and have breakfast with members of the 17th TRG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)

Community Leaders: students for a day

Pam Callan, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, claps during 17th Training Group annual awards ceremony at the San Angelo Country Club, San Angelo, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commanders started their day off with the opportunity to interact and have breakfast with members of the 17th TRG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)
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“I’m super thankful for the opportunity to host our honorary commanders at the 17th TRG. It’s important to give back to the community and to be able to show them what we do for training and how we train our joint leaders,” said Col. Jason Kulchar, 17th Training Group commander. “It’s very satisfying to bring them here and see the smiles on their face while having a deeper look into what we do here on base and in the training group.”  

Honorary commanders were able to sit with commanders from the 313th, 312th, 315th and 316th Training Squadrons, as well as the commander of the 17th Training Support Squadron, in an environment where they could ask questions and learn about their respective missions.  

Immediately following, honorary commanders headed to the 17th TRSS Instructional Technology Unit to get a closer look at innovative methods produced by the ITU. The techniques showcased ways that instructors can connect with students in the event they cannot teach in person and how students can get hands-on experience while in technical training before entering the operational field. Using Virtual Reality headsets, they were able to put themselves in the place of those training and experience what many Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance students are expected to be proficient with before graduating.  

Molly Turk, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, uses virtual reality gear at the 17th Training Support Squadron Instructional Technology Unit, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commanders watched and experienced the 17th TRSS ITU’s mission and how they support training and daily operations across the 17th TRW. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)

Community Leaders: students for a day

Molly Turk, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, uses virtual reality gear at the 17th Training Support Squadron Instructional Technology Unit, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commanders watched and experienced the 17th TRSS ITU’s mission and how they support training and daily operations across the 17th TRW. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)
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They then talked to instructors at the International Schoolhouse about the ins and outs of housing and training international students from across 30 countries before transitioning to the 312th Training Squadron to suit up and try their hand at fire protection training tasks that students are expected to be proficient in before moving on to operational units in the Air Force. 

At the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, honorary commanders participated in different daily practice obstacles for fire protection students. During their tour, the honorary commanders looked at different sides of training at the fire academy and attended a graduation ceremony. Through the afternoon, they met with several fire instructors who answered questions to give them the full scope of what it's like being a student training there every day.  

Honorary commanders spray a target with a fire hose during the 17th Training Group immersion at the Louis F. Garland Department of the Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. Each honorary commander tried their hand at tasks students are expected to be proficient in before they leave the 312th Training Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)

Community Leaders: students for a day

Honorary commanders spray a target with a fire hose during the 17th Training Group immersion at the Louis F. Garland Department of the Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. Each honorary commander tried their hand at tasks students are expected to be proficient in before they leave the 312th Training Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)
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“It's such a privilege to be a part of the honorary commander program. Today, we learned about the 17th TRG and the different squadrons,” said Nolan Sosa, 17th TRW honorary commander. “It's been a great opportunity to learn about the great training that goes on at Goodfellow for the next generations of leaders in the Air Force. I definitely appreciate the opportunity and enjoyed the day." 

Pam Callan, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, smiles during the 17th Training Group immersion at the Louis F. Garland Department of the Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commander program is implemented to integrate local community leaders into Goodfellow’s mission and maintain strong bonds with the community of San Angelo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)

Community Leaders: students for a day

Pam Callan, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, smiles during the 17th Training Group immersion at the Louis F. Garland Department of the Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commander program is implemented to integrate local community leaders into Goodfellow’s mission and maintain strong bonds with the community of San Angelo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)
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The 17th Training Wing honorary commanders learn about different teaching techniques used to train Department of Defense fire protection specialists at the Louis F. Garland DoD Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2023. Using the Norma Brown trainer, the course instructor can re-create various accidents and situations that test the student’s ability to mitigate damage and direct resources. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)

Community Leaders: students for a day

The 17th Training Wing honorary commanders learn about different teaching techniques used to train Department of Defense fire protection specialists at the Louis F. Garland DoD Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2023. Using the Norma Brown trainer, the course instructor can re-create various accidents and situations that test the student’s ability to mitigate damage and direct resources. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
The 17th Training Wing honorary commanders learn about innovative teaching procedures during the 17th Training Group immersion at the 17th Training Support Squadron Instructional Technology Unit, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. They got to watched and experienced the 17th TRSS ITU’s mission and how they support training and daily operations across the 17th TRG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)

Community Leaders: students for a day

The 17th Training Wing honorary commanders learn about innovative teaching procedures during the 17th Training Group immersion at the 17th Training Support Squadron Instructional Technology Unit, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. They got to watched and experienced the 17th TRSS ITU’s mission and how they support training and daily operations across the 17th TRG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Patrick Brody, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, along with members of the 17th Training Group stand during the National Anthem while attending the 17th Training Group annual awards ceremony at the San Angelo Country Club, San Angelo, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commanders started their day off with the opportunity to interact and have breakfast with members of the 17th TRG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)

Community Leaders: students for a day

Patrick Brody, 17th Training Wing honorary commander, along with members of the 17th Training Group stand during the National Anthem while attending the 17th Training Group annual awards ceremony at the San Angelo Country Club, San Angelo, Texas, Jan. 12, 2024. The honorary commanders started their day off with the opportunity to interact and have breakfast with members of the 17th TRG. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madison Collier)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res