JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
The 305th Aerial Port Squadron hosted the first Project Enigma class for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst July 24 to 28. The week-long professional development course hosted 12 students from 5 career-fields, led by Tech. Sgt. Michael Freitas and Tech. Sgt. Emesh Fernando, both co-leads of Project Enigma.
Designed by the Department of the Air Force: Fortify the Force Initiative Team and developed under a Small Business Innovation Research contract, Project Enigma addresses first-term airmen retention issues which are a current challenge for the Air Force.
“The 40-hour course provides our students with skills that they do not always receive through conventional Professional Military Education,” stated Fernando.
During the course, students engaged in a variety of interactive scenarios and discussions that provided a deeper understanding on lessons that covered emotional intelligence, adaptive communication, coaching and feedback, listening to learn, and building trust through crucial conversations.
“One of my favorite moments from the first class, was how each student would handle a specific situation when they re-enacted a situational based scenario debate,” said Freitas. “It was great to witness them learning from each other.”
Project Enigma seeks to help strengthen supervisor-Airmen relationships to improve retention across the Air Force.
“It is an honor to represent this program and interact with our students, and to hear their observations on why they believe retention of our airmen is a current challenge across the Air Force,” said Fernando.
For the foreseeable future, Project Enigma will continue to be provided at JB MDL. The next class is scheduled for October 2023.