One step on the pathway to leadership

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Parker
  • 82 TRW Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Being a good Wingman can simply mean knowing who or where to refer an Airman for help. The Integrated Delivery System (IDS) agencies are launching "Leadership Pathways" with the goal of educating all Airmen, military and civilian, on the support system available to them at Sheppard Air Force Base.

The program is geared toward developing basic resilience and life skills for those who advise, supervise, mentor, or teach with the intent to encourage individuals to take advantage of classes offered through the IDS.

"The hope of the program is to take away any negative stigma associated with taking a class by offering this as an educational opportunity," said Michelle Schroeder, Airman and Family Readiness Center director and current IDS chair.

These classes are designed to help individuals develop better skills, such as coping and communicating, so  they will be able to better manage and assist others in overcoming life's challenges.

Classes offered cover a wide range of topics to help build mental, social, spiritual and fitness well-being. The tendency is to seek out help once a problem or issue arises, but the idea behind "Leadership Pathways" is to be preventative.

"You can take classes for the education benefit, this way when a situation arises in your life or a friends, you will know your resources and be better prepared to handle the situation," Schroeder said.

Participants can also be rewarded for attending Leadership Pathways classes. The Airman and Family Readiness Center will keep a training transcript for every individual that attends classes for all IDS agencies.

Attending eight classes will earn squadron level recognition, fifteen will earn group level recognition and twenty or above earns wing level recognition.

This transcript, as well as class credits, can be transferred to any Air Force base.

"To transfer a transcript, the individual can request a copy from our office to present to the Community Support Coordinator at the next base," said Schroeder. "The number of classes taken carries over to the next base. So if you take five classes here and three at your next base those will all count toward the squadron level recognition."

To view a list of classes offered, visit the events calendar on the Sheppard homepage, www.sheppard.af.mil. Users can search by "Leadership Pathways" to populate a list.

For more information call Michelle Schroeder at 940-676-5117.