JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Every day, Airmen across the 15th Maintenance Squadron work together to produce safe, reliable, mission ready aircraft and equipment. But one Airman has taken it a step further and integrated some lessons learned from Army courses to enhance his mission capabilities.

Senior Airman Adam White, 15th MXS engine propulsion specialist, is responsible for maintaining the C-17 Globemaster III engines.

“In my job, it’s easy to see the impact I have on the mission,” said White. “I fix the engines and a couple of hours later I get to watch the plane take off later that day.”

At the propulsion shop, White evaluates and recommends maintenance on the engines, replaces defective components and monitors test runs on repaired engines. While his training and mentorship has prepared him to meet the demands of the 15th Wing’s mission, it’s the lessons he learned from training with the Army that has encouraged him to push himself.

Over the past year White has attended the Air Assault Course, Modern Army Combative Program, and Basic Marksmanship Leader’s Course at Schofield Barracks.

“Each course focuses on a specific task, but I also learned a lot of practical leadership skills that I can apply within my unit,” said White.

Some of the leadership skills White learned to implement are communication, trust and responsibility.

“One of the major tenets all the courses stressed was ownership of yourself, standing up and taking responsibility for your actions,” said White.

Since taking the courses White’s leadership has taken notice of the positive changes.

“His confidence as a team lead has become apparent,” said Tech. Sgt. Ricardo Griffin, 15th MXS engine propulsion supervisor. “As an experienced Senior Airman, he leads as a trainer to seven Airmen in the work center. He also shows more initiative by getting the team moving and ensuring work continues at an efficient rate.”

Based on the positive changes he noticed, Griffin believes other Airmen can benefit from joint courses.

“I feel more Airmen should attend joint classes,” said Griffin. “It is always a positive to experience training outside their primary career field and to challenge themselves by getting out of their comfort zone. Training with a separate branch of service always provides a different outlook on military life and helps to see the bigger picture.”