Take careof the people and the peoplewill take care of the mission

PATRIOT | NOVEMBERMAKING A POINT >> Col. Doug Carpenter, 413 th Flight Test Group, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., listens as Maj. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, 22 nd Air Force commander,talks with more than 100 attendees, during the 22nd Air Force HRDC workshop held here Oct. 16-17. ( photo by Master Sgt. Anne Ward )Airmen first theme for 22 ndAF HRDC workshop in Oct.by Senior Master Sgt. Sandi Michon“Take care of the people and thepeople will take care of the mission.”Those were the words of Maj. Gen.Martin M. Mazick, 22nd Air Forcecommander, highlighting the themefor the Human Resources DevelopmentCouncil workshop hosted hereOct. 16, 17 for over 100-participantsfrom 14-wings in 22nd Air Force.Col. Michael J. Marten, 439thAirlift Wing vice commander andchairperson for Westover’s HRDCprogram said the workshop, a firstfor Westover, was a platform for thewings in 22nd AF to inspire and motivateeach other with success stories.Sample topics included enlistedworkshops, mentoring, surveys,Communities of Practice, Base Realignmentand Closure-related unitmoves, Rising Six councils and otherinnovations that communicate andimplement good ideas.The public affairs office here conducteda random, informal surveyin October and found that over75 percent of the people polled atWestover do not know what theHRDC acronym stands for, muchless its purpose.“HRDC is a people-oriented organization,charged with makingWestover a better and more desirableplace to work,” said Colonel Marten.“It is a place where we identify weaknessesin our organization and find away to fix them.”The HRDC, a 1992 command initiative,critically looks at retention,recruiting, and demographic trendswithin the wing to initiate changewhere needed.“Our HRDC program used to beMEO [Military Equal Opportunity]on steroids, then it became a complaintorganization, but we have turned itinto an effective team that takes action,”said Colonel Marten. “What we wantmost, is to empower individuals tomake a difference. Bring your ideas tothe table,” he said.“While our organization may initiateand promote programs aimedat enhancing retention, recruitment,mentoring and diversity, we would bekidding ourselves to think we had all theanswers or that we could be effective in avacuum,” Colonel Marten said.Professional organizations like theCompany Grade Officers Council,Chiefs council, Top 3 and Rising 6councils offer Airmen an opportunityto communicate and get involved inimproving things for everyone assignedhere.Other opportunities, like the onethat inspired Master Sgt. Luisa V.Cabana, noncommissioned officer incharge, 439th Maintenance Opera-tions Squadron, come from within.Sergeant Cabana, a 22-year veteran,created a plan to host a one-day Hispanicyouth leadership symposiumhere for families from three localtowns that demographically have thehighest Hispanic population: Springfield,Holyoke and Chicopee.“As a Latino, I understand the challengesour culture faces” she said. “Byproviding a greatly needed service tothe local Hispanic population, it canonly benefit both the community andWestover.”After receiving Westover’s awardfor Best HRDC program in 22nd AF,Colonel Marten said he appreciatedthe nod but felt the credit belonged toWestover Airmen.“We are busy – our Airmen do a lot,” hesaid. “The [award] write-up says it all.”Colonel Marten closed by summarizingHRDC’s role here.“If our Airmen enjoy working atWestover because they are takencare of, then HRDC has done itsjob,” he said.