Wing's June UTA virtual training experience

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 403rd Wing

As part of ongoing COVID-19 mitigation efforts, the 403rd Wing is having a virtual Unit Training Assembly June 6-7.

Wing Reserve Citizen Airmen should coordinate with their supervisors and commanders to inquire about telework options or to reschedule or excuse the UTA. And, Airmen who live in the local area may come in to work the UTA, pending supervisor or commander approval.

“Commanders have maximum flexibility to ensure Airmen get a good year towards their retirement. The goal is to work our way back to normal operations, but we are not there yet and we must continue to implement measures to ensure the health and safety of our community and workforce,” said Col. Jeffrey A. Van Dootingh, 403rd Wing commander. “Our focus remains on protecting our people while maintaining mission readiness.”

For Airmen who opt to telework, there are several opportunities, according to Chief Master Sgt. Monte Snyder, performance process manager and master resilience trainer for the wing. The chief is teaching a live online resiliency training from 9 a.m. to noon June 6-7, a DISC Behavior-Personality Styles training at 1:30 p.m. June 6, and a class based on the book “The ONE Thing,” which is on the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force reading list, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. All courses are offered on Zoom. Each course is limited to 500 participants, first come first served basis. Airmen should check their email for additional information as well as the Zoom links to the courses.

The resiliency course is a two-day course, three to four hours each day, provides members with some strategies, or a “Resiliency Toolkit,” for the short and long term, said Snyder. The chief highlights skill sets and tools to assist in developing resilience. This includes information about gratitude or looking for the good, values based goals, bringing strengths, reframe or control how one reacts, balanced thinking, celebrating good news, mindfulness and physical resilience.

The DISC course delves into people’s various personality types, how this effects their everyday actions, communication, ability to organization and preferred work environments and styles, said the chief.

“Understanding ourselves and others can assist a person and organization in areas such as communication, meetings, conflict negotiation, teambuilding and productivity,” said Snyder.

“The ONE Thing,” written by Gary Keller, delves into a person’s ability to dismiss distractions and concentrate on the one thing between a person and their goals, which can improve efficiency and productivity, according to Snyder.

There are also Continuous Process Improvement courses such as Green Belt eLearning training opportunities, which can be found on CPI portal homepage site upon registration. Green Belt was created in the commercial sector and adopted by the Air Force to find more efficient ways to accomplish the mission, said Snyder.

And don’t forget about readiness; wing members can complete Total Force Awareness Training courses found in the Advanced Distributed Learning Service or Joint Knowledge Online websites, which require a username and password or a common access card to login.

The links (common access card required):
ADLS: https://golearn.adls.af.mil/login.aspx
JKO: https://jkodirect.jten.mil/Atlas2/page/login/Login.jsf
CPI: https://cs2.eis.af.mil/sites/10944/cpi/sitepages/home.aspx

The commander reminds Airmen who opt to perform the UTA in person that they must comply with base security and health protection requirements. Keesler still remains in Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Charlie, which restricts base access to mission essential personnel and activities only. Recently, the base began to reopen some facilities, such as the Bowling Center, Bay Breeze Event Center, Arts and Crafts Engraving Shop, Golf Course and Outdoor Recreation, but with modified operations and hours. Click here to view the list.

Even with some operations reopening, people are still required to comply with Department of Defense guidance requiring the use of cloth face coverings. Individuals on Department of the Air Force property, installations and facilities are required to wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of physical distance in public areas or work centers. Additionally, unit members are encouraged to continue to take protective actions for themselves and those around them by practicing strict hygiene, such as no hand-shaking and proper hand washing, social distancing, and taking appropriate actions if feeling sick.

“Wing members must report any contact, exposure, or positive test for COVID-19,” said the wing commander. “Air Force Reserve members, whether they are Active Guard Reserve, civilians, or traditional reservists must remember that they are required to notify their commander if they or a family member is diagnosed with COVID-19.”

Retirees, dependents, and Tricare beneficiaries may use the drive-up COVID Clinic on base Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wing reservists who are on active orders are encouraged to use the Dragon Hotline at 228-376-7132.

“We understand that these may be trying times for many people, and we have resources for Airmen who may be experiencing any financial or medical hardships,” said the wing commander, who added that they are encouraged to work with their supervisors and leadership and use resources such as Military One Source and Airman and Family Readiness.

Information on available helping resources can be found at this link: http://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/tabid/9102/Article/2128818/covid-19-supportive-resources-for-wing-members-families.aspx

For up-to-date base information, visit the 403rd Wing Website www.403wg.afrc.af.mil, the wing’s Air Force Connect App, and the Keesler AFB Health page at www.keesler.af.mil/Health

Other information resources include:
Mississippi Coronavirus Hotline (8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) 877-978-6453
COVID-19 - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
DoD COVID-19 - www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus/
AF COVID-19 - https://www.af.mil/News/Coronavirus-Disease-2019/
AFRC COVID-19 - https://www.afrc.af.mil/COVID-19/
Mississippi Department of Health - https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html
CDC Health Travel Notices - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/