Kadena hosts first DEI&A training Published May 19, 2023 By Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Pacific Air Forces hosted Diversity and Inclusion training for senior, non-commissioned, and commissioned leadership as well as establishing a new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility agency on Kadena Air Base, May 12, 2023. The Leading Inclusive Virtual Experience program is virtual training with an actor in a motion capture suit playing a role in different scenarios through a virtual avatar to provide an engaging experience for the LIVE program attendees. “The way the training works is one to two individuals get an opportunity to engage with the trained actor and go through the experience of working through the scenario,” said Anthony Cruz Muñoz, PACAF chief for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. “But science shows that while someone participating in the scenario, the rest of the people in attendance are just as engaged, simulating as if they were going through the scenario themselves.” Cruz explained the person leading the event will begin unpacking the event, starting with the individual actively engaging the actor. They will discuss their feelings and thoughts before moving on to the rest of the people in attendance. “This is the first time we are doing this on Kadena,” said Senior Master Sgt. Philip Washington, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility program manager. “Our intent is to start onboarding this program across Kadena through different types of avenues like the NCO Professional Enhancement Course and the First Sergeant’s Symposium, additionally squadrons could adopt LIVE for their resiliency training days.” Cruz said that every location he has introduced the LIVE program to has loved it, seeing its value in developing leadership skills, providing a different perspective on varying issues, and promoting a healthier workplace environment for Airmen of all levels. The LIVE platform delivers scenarios mirroring real issues that could occur in the workplace and organically promotes conversations between those taking the program and the different ways each individual would tackle the issue presented to them. PACAF is committed to establishing a Diversity and Inclusion program with a full-time program manager at each of their installations, working directly for the vice wing commander, and helping leadership take care of issues that affect healthy work culture, said Cruz. “It was a PACAF decision to develop something that would be meaningful, sustainable, and enduring,” said Cruz. “By making sure we have full-time individuals, like Senior Master Sgt. Washington, to receive the proper training and deliver all the tools he is getting to the rest of Kadena.”