Commentary: HRDC to be priority in 2009 Published Jan. 9, 2009 By Col. Andrew Larson, 419 FW/CV 419th Fighter Wing HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT -- I recently had the opportunity to attend the Air Force Reserve Command Human Resources Development Council biannual conference. Approximately 250 personnel attended, including Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, Chief of the Air Force Reserve; Maj. Gen. James Graves, Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve Matters; AFRC Numbered Air Force Commanders, the AFRC Command Chief, and many other officer and enlisted leaders. Prior to this conference I knew very little about HRDC. As I listened to the speakers, participated in the breakout sessions, and observed the exhibits, I realized the HRDC is a solid priority to our senior leaders and an important tool that we need to reactivate here at the 419th Fighter Wing. Our HRDC has been dormant for the last two years and it's time for that to change! So what is the HRDC and what does it mean to you and me? In short, the HRDC is designed to make recommendations to the 419th FW commander on issues pertaining to workforce development, diversity, and career development opportunities for all wing personnel. I will be the chairperson and we will have representatives from the three groups and medical squadron, chief's council, first sergeant's council, top three council, staff judge advocate, public affairs, recruiting, equal opportunity, airman and family readiness, education and training, and chaplains. We will also have an at-large company grade officer and an at-large junior enlisted member. We will meet monthly to get the council up and running in early 2009, and once the council is established and working smoothly, we will meet at least quarterly. The overall functional priorities that the council will address are mentoring, outreach, and inreach. This group will have three working groups to address each area. The overall goal is to create a fully developed and diversified workforce to enhance combat readiness. The outreach group will facilitate activities and projects related to community outreach and potential recruits to the Air Force Reserve. We have an outstanding community workforce and we need to tap into it as aggressively as possible. The outreach group will work with the recruiting office and public affairs to coordinate activities with the community and schools to further promote and educate the public on opportunities in the Air Force Reserve. The inreach group will retain qualified, productive individuals as part of the reserve family. This group will analyze the wing's promotion and commissioning trends, awards and decorations, loss rates, organizations climate issues, education and training, family readiness and personnel development. They will work in conjunction with the equal opportunity office to ensure that all members have the best opportunity possible to achieve and progress in their careers. The mentoring group will interact with commanders and supervisors and encourage them to become leaders and role models for those aspiring to be the next generation of leaders in the Air Force Reserve. This will be more than the "official" Air Force Mentoring program; anyone can be a mentor. This group will emphasize "unofficial" mentoring to maximize leadership development. You may be saying to yourself, "Most of these issues are already addressed by individual units, commanders, and first shirts." That's right, but this council will work to get more synergy and fulfill the HRDC's charter of building a better workforce. The intention is not to create more work for the members of this council but to be more efficient and synergistic with the work already being done. If you think you would like to be part of this council, please send an email to me at andrew.larson@hill.af.mil, or to Staff Sgt. Albert Spencer-Wise albert.spencer-wise@hill.af.mil . We plan to have our first meeting during the March UTA.