Dobbins' members embark on landmark experience Published Nov. 18, 2011 By Senior Airman Chelsea Smith 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Breezing by portraits of retired service members, war heroes, and inspirational quotes engraved on the walls, 37 men and women of Dobbins dressed sharply in full service uniform, made their way through the eighth corridor admiring what few have seen. The Pentagon, a prestigious American landmark and symbol for America's national defense, played host to these men and women for the Air Force Reserve Headquarters Orientation Course held Nov 14-16. The two-day trip included exclusive access to the Pentagon and Washington D.C. landmarks, as well as briefings conducted by directorates of the Air Force Reserve covering information designed to illustrate the day-to-day operations of the Reserve staff. Reservists were introduced to the legislative process in formulating Air Force policy and current and future issues affecting the Air Force Reserve. The open-forum atmosphere included briefings and question-answer sessions between Dobbins reservists and headquarters air staff. Select topics included headquarters policy integration, military construction projects, General officer management programs, Reserve medical initiatives and high-level inquiry programs. "The purpose of the orientation is to communicate to Reservists how the Air Force Reserve functions on a strategic level at headquarters," said Chief Master Sgt. Desriann L. Stevens, superintendent of Policy Integration at United States Air Force headquarters. "We show how our processes are streamlined from the air staff down to the command level, in which Reservists will see those policies implemented." Following the conclusion of the day's briefings, Dobbins members were treated to a tour of the Pentagon in which a fortunate few were able to walk through the office of Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and shake hands with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy. Attendees were the first from Dobbins to experience the orientation course held at the Pentagon, an initiative sponsored by the Human Resources Development Council, or HRDC, headed by Capt. Darrell Bogan, 94th Airlift Wing Equal Opportunity officer. "I think it has been a life-changing experience," said Bogan. "A real eye-opener for everyone to get an inside view of how headquarters operates, and learn how laws and policy made here directly impact us at Dobbins. It makes us feel connected to the bigger picture because we're informed on how reservists interface with the entire military, the Air Force in particular." Trip participants mimicked that privileged sentiment by the closing of the orientation. Most selected by their unit's group commanders to attend, are now equipped with a plethora of new knowledge, and are encouraged to brief their squadrons upon return, said Bogan. "I've been on trips to Washington D.C. before," said Senior Airman Luis Pluguez, 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron medical technician. "But not like this. This is by far the best experience I've had in the D.C. area and I'm so appreciative of the opportunities afforded to us on this trip." Besides new experiences or the chance to visit the Pentagon, members representing various units around Dobbins were also attracted to attend in order to unite with other service members they've never met before. "I enjoyed being around the people that I really don't get to see," said Airman 1st Class Diantre Williams, 94th Airlift Wing avionics technician. "We all come one weekend a month, but we really don't know each other and bringing all of us together allows us to see how we interact with one another." Williams, along with four other airmen, was selected to visit the White House which included a tour through the famous East Room, State Dining Room, library, and uniquely color-coded Red Room, Blue Room and Vermeil Room. "It's a wow factor from start to finish," said Bogan. "Getting the opportunity to see things you've never seen before and do things you've never done before, while in the process of building professional relationships - it's priceless. It's retaining power to make airmen want to stay and continue loving this Air Force."
