HRDC brings Airmen together to build relationships

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kelly Ogden
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ATLANTA --  Nearly 350 people traveled to Atlanta to share experiences and learn from each other at the Air Force Reserve Command's Human Resource Development Council conference Oct. 25-27.

The HRDC's mission includes ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all members, creating an environment that optimizes the contributions of a diverse workforce, and advising the commander of all matters pertaining to human resources.

Chief Master Sgt. Dwight Badgett, AFRC command chief master sergeant, said the HRDC mission is of the utmost importance to AFRC leadership.

"I want to make sure Airmen understand the impact of HRDC at the command levels, as well as back at their home base," he said. "We need HRDC involvement in everything that touches an Airman's life - from the first day an individual enters the military until the end of the person's career."

Maj. Sean Gustafson, the first Reservist selected to fly as a Thunderbird pilot, told the audience: "If you can dream it, do it."

The major said the distinctions between the Air Force Reserve and the Regular Air Force have changed in recent years.

"The lines between Reserve and active-duty are beginning to fade," he said.

His selection as a pilot on the Air Force aerial demonstration team is one indication of change. Reservists continually prove that they are an asset to the active-duty force by being hand-picked for positions normally reserved for active-duty Airmen.

The crowd came to its feet when Herbert Heilbrun talked about flying in World War II with the Tuskegee Airmen.

"I've given over 70 talks, but speaking to you all is very special...I think you know why, I have a kinship with you," he said.

Mr. Heilbrun, who is white, told the audience how thankful he is to the Tuskegee Airmen who fought for their country, even when their country didn't always fight for them.

"Johnny, a Tuskegee Airman, and I led parallel but separate lives," he said. "I was taught things that I didn't know about racism, indignities and injustices. He enriched my life and ignited a few candles."
Mr. Heilbrun went on to tell a story of how he flew with a Tuskegee Airmen during World War II but never met the actual man until some 50 years later. As fate would have it, he had actually met his friend many years earlier when he was in grade-school.

He recounted a story about growing up and going to grade school with only one black child in his class - his Tuskegee Airman friend, Johnny. Mr. Heilbrun pointed to his old class photo and smiled.

"We were standing beside each other," he said. "It was meant to be."

Mr. Heilbrun's final remarks hit home with anyone who has experienced the loss of a friend defending America's freedom.

"Please keep all of our Airmen in your thoughts," he said. "The greatest privilege of my life was to represent my country in aerial combat. The heroes who laid down their lives must never be forgotten."

Capt. Bernadine Ford, an HRDC event planner from Headquarters AFRC A1, was pleased about the large turnout at the conference.

"This conference has allowed Airmen to come together, experience several mentoring opportunities, allowing for peer interactions with some of AFRC's highest levels of leadership," she said. "The conference rejuvenates our force by allowing Airmen to see diversity, which allows for professional development through educating our force about our heritage and recognizing each other's achievements."

Airmen at all levels found HRDC to be a beneficial part of their careers.

Staff Sgt. Marina Buie was a conference briefer from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., and is president of the 439th Airlift Wing's "Rising Six" council, a group dedicated to being the voice of all Airmen on her base. She credits wing leadership to the success of the group. She said it best when she linked leadership to the success of all programs linked to HRDC.

"We simply can't do it without our command chiefs and commanders," she said.