Base training forms foundation for Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Austin Harvill
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  The similarities between cybersecurity awareness, the Noncommissioned Officer Academy and the advanced electrical troubleshooting course may seem minimal or even nonexistent, but there is one thing that ties them all together.

All three have come across the desks of 31st Force Support Squadron base training personnel.

Base training personnel act as a training conduit for Airmen and track the base's progress. They then share that progress with wing, major command and career field-level training experts and leaders. This helps personnel at all levels further improve Air Force training courses.

"Most Airmen interact with training through [the Advanced Distributed Learning Service], professional military education or career-specific development," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Leah Rogers, 31st Force Support Squadron base training superintendent. "Training is at the forefront of our force, so we make sure our Airmen can focus solely on their development without distraction."

Since every Airman utilizes training, Rogers focuses on "training trainers" to accomplish her mission.

"I coordinate our training efforts with more than 30 unit training managers across Aviano and our [geographically separated units]," said Rogers. "Really, those UTMs make the mission happen. They bear the burden of compiling records, and that is no small order."

Rogers then takes the UTMs' compiled data and reinterprets it to help training providers assess their products.

"We don't track training records to see who hasn't done their annual training and needs a slap on the wrist," explained Rogers. "Instead, we want to know if training efforts are making an impact and how to better improve what already exists."

Rogers encourages her UTMS to send similar reports to leadership so they are up-to-date on training efforts and results.

"Sharing the effects of training directly with our leaders involves them with their Airmen's futures," said Rogers. "Leaders, whether they are squadron commanders or frontline supervisors, deserve to be aware and a part of such a fundamental process."


As a UTM, supervisor, commander or even just a fellow Airman, Rogers believes all Airmen have a role in shaping the force.

"Training is the foundation for everything we do," said Rogers. "Everyone has a responsibility to lay that foundation. With what I have seen so far, I am confident that investment will be paid back tenfold."