PACE to forge professional Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joshua Strang
  • Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --  Forging professional Airmen was the focus of Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, as he officiated a ceremony March 11, formally recognizing the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

The Air Force chief of staff’s program, PACE, is an initiative set forth in 2014 by then Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, which focuses on military professionalism.

“The overriding purpose of PACE is to make our 695,000 Airmen better in execution of war fighting,” Rand said. “What we start today will become legendary for the Air Force.”

Officially activated and assigned to AETC on March 2, PACE is focused on studies, analysis and assessment for command strategic priorities associated with Airman professionalism. The center is driven by four professionalism goals: inspire a strong commitment to the profession of arms, promote the right mindset to enhance effectiveness and trust, foster relationships that strengthen an environment of trust, and enhance a culture of shared identity, dignity and respect.

“Our core values of integrity, service and excellence, and our mission of ‘fly, fight, and win,’ have to be connected,” Rand said. “That is what PACE will do.”

Rand passed the PACE guidon to Col. Jeffrey Smith, signifying his assumption of command as the PACE director. Smith went on to say that professionalism and leading Airmen is a calling.

“We need to lead our Airmen well,” Smith said. “We need to bring our people to a better state tomorrow than where we are today.”

The primary audience of PACE is Air Force leaders at all levels. The center produces a number of Web-accessible products to assist leadership in communicating with their Airmen through a variety of forums. Products such as videos can be used in larger, open forums while handouts can be shared in smaller, informal meetings or during one-on-one feedback sessions.

“The Air Force is our customer, and we are here for you,” Smith said. “I look forward to seeing what we can do together.”

PACE is driven and committed to its vision of developing Airmen who do the right thing, the right way and for the right reason.

“When their moment comes, and there will be a moment for every Airman when it is their time to do something that will change the world,” Rand said, “they will be ready.”

For more information and to access their Web products, visit the PACE website or engage with PACE through social media via their Twitter account at @ProfessionalAmn and their Facebook page.