PEC visits TEC to explore collaboration opportunities

By Master Sgt. Mavi Smith
The I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center

(12/8/09) -- Leadership from The Lavern E. Weber National Guard Bureau Professional Education Center (PEC) visited The I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center here to explore opportunities for collaboration between the two training centers, Dec. 8. The PEC is the Army National Guard's version of the Training and Education Center. It is located at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., on a sprawling 75-acre campus consisting of 25 buildings. It has a staff of about 420 military and civilian contractor personnel who provide instruction to over 20,000 members of the military each year. They also manage a conference center and host over 5,000 conferees annually.

"The Army Guard has such an established program with the PEC," said Col. Richard B. Howard, commander of the Training and Education Center. "So, sharing ideas with the PEC folks today on how we might be able to develop ourselves to reach and match the vision of the chief of the National Guard Bureau (for the Training and Education Center) to expand to meet the needs of the Air National Guard and the total force... is going to help us get there."

PEC's leadership spent the day on a whirlwind tour to learn more about the Training and Education Center and McGhee Tyson ANGB. Their visit was in reciprocation of a visit made to the PEC by members of the Training and Education Center and the 134th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) in April.

"TEC is really amazing," said Army Col. John M. Frost, commandant of the PEC. "The main thing we wanted to do is try and learn from each other's organizations and see where there might be some opportunities for us to partner together to make both organizations even better and stronger."

While at the Training and Education Center, PEC leadership received Informative briefings from Howard and the center's Enlisted Professional Military Education, Transformative Education, and TEC TV branches. Air Force Col. Timothy T. Dearing, commander of the 134th ARW, also joined the group and provided an overview of the missions accomplished at McGhee Tyson ANGB and his commitment to the Training and Education Center.

The PEC leadership also toured the campus and visited the classrooms of the 130 students attending Satellite NCO Academy Class 10-2.

"I thought it was wonderful," said Army Maj. Sean Gavan, chief of operations for the PEC. "I enjoyed the opportunity to not only see the classrooms here at TEC and how you're structured but to visit with some of the TEC students."

During the visit, lessons learned were shared; training, planning and registration issues were discussed; and similarities between the organizations were explored. While the missions of the two organizations are different, many of the participants expressed synergies for collaboration.

"One of the synergies I see is in conference capabilities," said Frost. "And I also think there will be opportunities to do leadership training at either location that is applicable to both services."

"I actually find between the Army and the Air Guard training methodologies and the resourcing, we are very much similar," said Gavan. "I look forward to seeing how we can expand our capabilities for the Army and the Air Guard together as we look toward the future."