ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Andrews' professional development clubs -- Airmen Committed to Excellence; Building Andrews, Shaping Excellence 5/6; and Top 3 offer camaraderie, and promote unity and honor.
"The ACE meetings are welcome to all, but it truly caters to the junior enlisted," said Senior Airman Eric Patterson, 744th Communications Squadron Information Protection Operations Flight and ACE president.
"The BASE 5/6 meetings are mainly for E-5 and E-6," said Staff Sgt.
Coty Hewlett, 457th Airlift Squadron Life Support and BASE 5/6 president. "We encourage supervisors and senior leadership to come out and see what we are about and offer any advice that can help make us a better organization."
Every senior NCO or master sergeant select, whether Active, Guard, Reserve or retired can attend Top 3 meetings, said Master Sgt. Mary Davis, 89th Airlift Wing safety division superintendent and Top 3 vice president.
During the meetings, each club discusses different topics to help them with their career.
"We usually discuss things like force shaping, furthering education, enlisted and commissioned ranks, self improvement, boosting morale, and community improvement," said Airman Patterson. "Some of the benefits of attending ACE include networking and furthering one's career and instilling a sense of pride for the community."
"During the BASE 5/6 meetings, we go over minutes from the last meeting and current events," said Sergeant Hewlett. "Most meetings we have a guest speaker that speaks on important information regarding the Air Force or ways to help become better leaders and supervisors in the Air Force. We also discuss things to help get the Airman on the base more involved and to interact more with each other, and how we can help the community more."
"Top 3 meetings provide information to members on events and opportunities for leadership development within the community," said Sergeant Davis. "Members have the opportunity to mentor junior grades in professional and personal development."
Ace meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 1:30 p.m. in the Freedom Hall Dining Facility. ACE membership is free.
The BASE 5/6 meetings are held at 11:30 a.m. every second Tuesday of the month in Tatum's Lounge at The Club at Andrews. To be a part of BASE 5/6, there is a $5 membership fee for E-5s and $6 for E-6s. There is a $20 membership fee for those wanting a lifetime membership for both E-5 and E-6.
The Top 3 general membership meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, at 11:30 a.m. in the Tatum's Lounge of The Club at Andrews. There is a lifetime membership fee of $10.