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'Diverse, experienced Air Guard must come from below,' says Wyatt

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • National Guard Bureau
HYATTSVILLE, Md. --  The Air National Guard's ability to successfully conduct missions in the future depends on the development of future leaders, its top officer said Sept. 14.

"It is our responsibility as an organization to develop the content of their character," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the Air National Guard at the Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.

Wyatt was among dozens of top leaders from the Department of Defense and the Air Force including Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Craig R. McKinley, who spoke about the Air Force and aerospace development.

Wyatt spoke to about 50 military and civilian conferees during his scheduled breakout session and then appeared on a panel with the Air Force's top general officers Wednesday.

During his breakout, he pointed out several Airmen who are carrying the Air Guard into the future, like Master Sgt. Tyrone Bingham, an Air Force 12 Outstanding Airman of the Year, and a Nevada Guardsman, who was recognized for his service by the AFA.

Wyatt said the strength of the force comes with opportunities, diversity and encouraging Airmen to "get out of their comfort zones."

"It's a challenge on active duty and a challenge in the reserve to take an [Airman], who is only interested in who his flight commander and his wingman are, and give that individual the education, the skills and the broad knowledge base, and the broad experience base, to be able to stand on this stage and visit with you today," he said.

He also spoke of challenges the Air Guard faces in recapitalization, but he returned to the development of future leaders as a main topic, and related its importance to the fiscal and budget challenges the nation and the military face.

"At this time of reduced resources, we need people who are adaptable, who are flexible, who are capable and who have experiences in life that cannot be diagramed or written out in a linear form," said Wyatt. "So we have to develop those types of people."