Ceremony marks milestone in education

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Genieve David
  • 75 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The Utah System of Higher Education and Hill Air Force Base, memorandum of understanding signing ceremony held Monday marked a milestone in education here.

The Education and Training Alliance memo, signed by Maj. Gen. Kevin Sullivan, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander and the commission for the Utah System of Higher Education, Dr. Richard Kendell, agreed both are committed to excellence in education and furthering the goals of the installations need for a credentialed pool of personnel necessary to achieve future mission requirements.

The ETA is a joint program of Hill and the USHE and is primarily an education and training initiative and tool to promote the benefits of employment here.

"Hill Air Force Base and the Utah's educational institutions will work together to develop an educated and trained workforce to meet the projected skills requirements necessary to satisfy our Air Force mission," said Lezlie Cazel, Force Development Division chief.

The purpose of the ETA is to ensure a credentialed workforce for Hill by through focused training and education in Utah's colleges, universities and technology centers. The ETA will focus on training, education and career opportunities for both the technical trade and professional fields at Hill.

"All Total Force Airmen have the opportunity to incorporate higher education into their development, through Air Force sponsored degrees, the Community College of the Air Force, or with tuition assistance for civilian institutions," said Honorable Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force. "Developing people to lead the world's best air, space and cyberspace force takes the personal commitment of all Airmen--a commitment to focus on developing ourselves and encouraging our fellow Airmen--to learn a much as possible about the complexities of our profession of arms."

Hill appointed ETA officers will annually provide a projection of skills needed to the ETA executive committee and in turn, this will allow institutions to market job opportunities to potential students.

"We are excited to form a committee comprised of key players within civilian personnel and the functional areas at Hill as well as representatives from the education institutions to develop pathways to a successful partnership in outreach activities such as career fairs, industry days, personal development workshops and speakers, etc." Ms. Cazel said.