Tag: military

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News

EPME Center graduates hundreds through virtual classes, ceremony

The live-streamed U.S. Air Force graduation from virtual in-residence remote NCO Academy and Airman Leadership School, included 235 students, July 13, 2020, attending the courses from the Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center. (U.S. Air National Guard photo illustration)

FRIENDSVILLE, Tenn. – More than 10,000 watched the virtual graduation ceremony of U.S. Air Force Airmen enrolled in virtual in-residence, remote NCO Academy and Airman Leadership School, broadcast live July 13, to the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center’s Facebook account.

Family, friends, and coworkers used the moment to directly share the Livestream at least 30 times, “like” it more than 100 times, and submit more than 150 positive comments of support and congratulations. A recording is at https://lnkd.in/ejhp_Rv.

“Congratulations to all today’s graduates.” and “You are the future of the Air Force. Aim High!” and “Yeahhh my baby girl!” and “We are so proud of you.” were among the prevailing sentiments.

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News

USAF Air Combat Command selects TEC for future cyber-training mission

The McKinley Hall classroom and dormitory facility at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, July 9, 2020, on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in East Tennessee. TEC is a detachment of the Air National Guard’s readiness center as well as its primary campus for professional military education and broadcasting. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

U.S. Air Force Combat Command selected the Air National Guard’s training and education center on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in East Tennessee for training Airmen to protect and defend the nation’s most advanced computerized weapon systems.

The I.G. Brown Training and Education Center is part of a recent and extensive, multi-unit effort to increase Air Combat Command’s Mission Defense Team cyber training with the inclusion of the campus, located just outside Knoxville.

“This is an exciting moment for TEC and its future as an agile, innovative, and resilient center of learning for the total Air Force and the National Guard Bureau,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Kenneth Lozano, TEC commander. “We are expanding and growing at zero cost. This initiative is the result of a strategy to diversify TEC’s role today and into the future.”

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News

FAQs for virtual in-resident remote NCO Academy and Airman leadership school

FRIENDSVILLE, Tenn. – With so many things impacted by COVID-19, the U.S. Air Force response included a suspended NCO academy and Airman leadership school for Airmen. Both courses are requirements for promotion to NCO and senior NCO, as well as provide essential knowledge for aspiring leaders.

Here’s the good news: they are available remotely now through virtual in-resident remote enlisted professional military education.

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News

Education center staff and faculty push their development, despite adversity

The Minuteman statue outside the I.G. Brown Traning and Education Center’s Patriot hall. TEC serves the total U.S. Air Force in professional military education and development. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

FRIENDSVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the Air National Guard’s training and education center in East Tennessee did not stop their own personal and professional growth in the face of teleworking.

Leaders noted how the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center’s 80-plus staff and faculty enrolled in online learning. More than 30 Airmen joined recently in a 20-hour course entitled, “leadership engagement, increase communication and trust,” which included individual coaching sessions.

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News Uncategorized

USAF instructors prove their agility with classroom-to-camera skills

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Megan Francolini and Tech. Sgt. Renee Wiederspahn discuss enlisted professional military education recordings in the TEC-TV control room June 4, 2020, during recording sessions for virtual in-residence remote NCO academy for the total U.S. Air Force. TEC’s Lankford EPME Center in East Tennessee kicks off VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school for more than 250 students, connected across the nation, beginning June 15. Sergeants Francolini and Wiederspahn are assigned to the center as PME instructors. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

LOUISVILLE, Tenn. — U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Megan Francolini and Tech. Sgt. Renee Wiederspahn recorded sessions in the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center TV studio, June 4, on McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in East Tennessee, during camera-work for virtual in-residence remote NCO academy for the total U.S. Air Force.

Their efforts are among just a few weeks’ worths of turnaround by TEC’s Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center – the Air Force’s largest EPME center – as it kicks off VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school mid-month.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Steven Durrance, the EPME center commandant, said in March that his team was focused on preparations to instruct a new curriculum as well as alternative learning methods.

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Instructors learned television-studio camera skills from broadcasting experts, including reading from a teleprompter, to record their curriculum. TEC operates the Air National Guard’s broadcast center and Warrior Network television studios.

“This was an extremely quick turn for Lankford; especially considering the circumstances,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Beiting, NCO academy superintendent. “It really has been a massive effort with a lot of challenges.”

The Air National Guard’s Lankford Center is a total force institution and graduates thousands of students annually. The 38 faculty include 19 enlisted Airmen from the regular Air Force, 18 from the National Guard, and one from the Reserve Command, as well as three support staff. They focused on coursework revisions and transformations from home since the worldwide pandemic suspended classes on campus.

More than 250 EPME students will connect from their homes across the nation beginning June 15.

Airmen interested in these courses should speak with their assigned education managers concerning VIR-R EPME opportunities.

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Short stories

Every dog has its day

Every dog has its day
a short story

Rob Bartell spent sessions with his therapist discussing methods to channel his anger. Now he focused on cranking the window down in his cheap rental. The cool air refreshed him. The folded American flag and medal they tossed him at the capital were in a backpack on the passenger seat. He still felt the governor’s handshake, which tried to match his.

[You were there, Bro.]

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News

Virtual in-residence remote EPME scheduled for 251 Airmen

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Bieting reads a teleprompter in the TEC-TV studios during a recording session of Virtual In-residence Remote NCO Academy for the total U.S. Air Force, June 2, 2020, at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in East Tennessee. TEC’s Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center instructors begin teaching the inaugural VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school for more than 250 students, connected from homes across the nation, beginning June 15. Sergeant Bieting is assigned as the NCO academy superintendent. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

LOUISVILLE, Tenn. — U.S. Air Force professional military education instructors assigned to the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in East Tennessee were wrapping up the final recordings for virtual in-residence remote NCO academy and Airman leadership school this week for the total U.S. Air Force.

TEC’s Lankford Enlisted PME Center began developing the inaugural VIR-R classes in March through telework and in the TEC-TV studios when classes suspended on campus due to COVID19.

More than 250 EPME students are scheduled to connect from their homes across the nation beginning June 15.

Airmen interested in these courses should speak with their assigned education managers concerning VIR-R EPME opportunities.

U.S. Air Force Airmen use the TEC-TV studios during a recording session of Virtual In-residence Remote NCO Academy for the total U.S. Air Force, June 2, 2020, at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in East Tennessee. TEC’s Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center instructors begin teaching the inaugural VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school for more than 250 students, connected from homes across the nation, beginning June 15. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)
U.S. Air Force switchboard in the TEC-TV control room during a recording session of Virtual In-residence Remote NCO Academy for the total U.S. Air Force, June 2, 2020, at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in East Tennessee. TEC’s Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center instructors begin teaching the inaugural VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school for more than 250 students, connected from homes across the nation, beginning June 15. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)
U.S. Air Force Airmen use the TEC-TV studios during a recording session of Virtual In-residence Remote NCO Academy for the total U.S. Air Force, June 2, 2020, at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in East Tennessee. TEC’s Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center instructors begin teaching the inaugural VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school for more than 250 students, connected from homes across the nation, beginning June 15. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Erik Gallion manages the TEC-TV control room during a recording session of Virtual In-residence Remote NCO Academy for the total U.S. Air Force, June 2, 2020, at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in East Tennessee. TEC’s Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center instructors begin teaching the inaugural VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school for more than 250 students, connected from homes across the nation, beginning June 15. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)
U.S. Air Force Airmen use the TEC-TV studios during a recording session of Virtual In-residence Remote NCO Academy for the total U.S. Air Force, June 2, 2020, at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center in East Tennessee. TEC’s Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center instructors begin teaching the inaugural VIR-R NCO Academy as well as VIR-R Airman leadership school for more than 250 students, connected from homes across the nation, beginning June 15. (U.S. Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith)

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News

Longest-serving on TEC staff, Billie Laux, dies at 85

MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. – Students, administrators and instructors are pictured an early class photo here of the Air National Guard’s Noncommissioned Officer Academy at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center. The Center’s first program of instruction began in 1968. (U.S. Air National Guard file-photo/Released)

FRIENDSVILLE, Tenn. — Billie Laux, who provided decades of service and support to the Air National Guard training and education center, died Sunday, May 24, at 85.

Laux was hired in 1968 by the Director of the Air National Guard to serve as a civilian administrator at the ANG’s first NCO Academy. She was among its six initial instructors and staff, including a deputy commandant, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Paul H. Lankford, and a commandant/commander U.S. Air Force Maj. Ed Morrisey.

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Uncategorized

Interactive gatherings bypass traditional auditorium events

U.S. Air Force Col. Ken Lozano, commander of the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, greets staff and faculty from his home in East Tennessee in May. It is one of many personal video clips that the detachment's Airmen compiled from their homes to share a sense of belonging during the pandemic. (U.S Air National Guard screenshot)

FRIENDSVILLE, Tenn. — The Air National Guard’s training and education center in East Tennessee recently held two core organizational events virtually that would fill an auditorium under normal circumstances.

The interactive gatherings online included the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center’s quarterly commander’s call, as well as the organization’s all-staff tactical pause day. They are the most extensive and latest gatherings of assigned personnel to be affected by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

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commentary

Commentary: The combat effective couch commando

Service members teleworking at home should evaluate their ergonomics to avoid potential injures that can affect readiness.

“I forgot how to do homework. My back is killing me. I need to get off of this old couch.”

“Then you need to take care of that,” my wife recently told me over the phone from Missouri. “There’s no one there besides you to see it and point that out.”

“You’d think for a writer that I’d have telework down,” I replied. “I need to use a desk and a good chair. I’m too old to get by long with poor posture.”

Alright. In perspective, my aches and pains are small potatoes in this terrible pandemic. Hardship and suffering are rampant. And I was not battling the virus or at any significant risk, unlike our courageous health care workers and essential services workers. I was working from home, writing an article about how U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center are teleworking.

As it turns out, that and my hurt back all got me thinking about ergonomics.

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