ARPC hosts final RODE course

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The Air Reserve Personnel Center recently hosted Twenty six students and six Air Force Reserve senior leaders during Air Force Reserve Command’s final Reserve Officer Development Course here April 23-26, 2015.

Maj. Andrew Williams and Maj. Brad Bair, both ARPC project officers, worked with Mickey McGalliard and Maj. Costau Bastien, from the professional development center at the Air Force Reserve Command Manpower, Personnel and Services to execute the course. In addition, seven ARPC personnel supported the course in various capacities.

Williams, ARPC Force Development Division assignment facilitator, said hosting the course here gave students a much greater sense and appreciation for what ARPC does and how the center supports Airmen throughout their careers.

“It's a privilege to support this awesome program. The students loved being at ARPC due to the access to the various personnel programs and being able to put faces with names,” Williams said. “Serving as a project officer was a lot of work involving months of planning and long hours, but the benefits far exceed the demands. The planning and coordinating with base offices, the exposure to the diverse students and the personal interactions with Air Force Reserve senior leaders will serve me extremely well as an Air Force officer for years to come.”

The timing of the program, designed for junior officers, is ideal as the company grade officer is often in the process of developing and testing their unique leadership style, Williams said.

“The students leave RODE, and the similar Junior Officer Leadership Development course, feeling energized, motivated and ‘re-blued,’ which they take back to their home units and implement immediately.”

In response to the announcement this was the final RODE course due to budget cuts, Williams said the junior officers who participated in the course strongly encourage it remain funded.

“Perhaps the greatest benefit is the personal, one-on-one interaction between junior officer and the select Air Force Reserve general officers and colonels who serve as senior leaders,” he said. “I'd argue no other opportunity currently exists in our organization structure where junior officers benefit as greatly from the invested time, career experiences and personal insights afforded to them by these senior leaders.”

Doing a field activity downtown Denver and getting a hands-on demonstration of a development team board were some of the course highlights. Students also enjoyed a Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball game scheduled during the course.