Shaw Group 56 growing stronger Published Jan. 19, 2010 Shaw Group 56 SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Whether Air Force or in other services represented here, Shaw Group 56 is open to all E-5s, -6s, and E-5 selectees affiliated with Shaw. The group's first meeting of 2010 was held Jan. 12 and kicked off by an address from Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Antwine, 20th Operations Group superintendent. He spoke to the group about the importance and benefits of involvement in professional organizations and just how powerful an organization like Shaw Group 56 could be. "It was an awesome way to kick off the new year," said Staff Sgt. April Howard, president of the Shaw Group 56. "One of the things Chief Antwine said that stuck out to me was, 'You don't know, what you don't know.' During our meeting we discovered just how true that is. Discussions of recent uniform policy changes highlighted how people and organizations had different pieces of information, and others had none. Group 56 gives us an avenue to bounce information off one another, discuss important topics and seek answers from senior leadership to make us better and more informed." This year, the Shaw Group 56 is focusing more on making each other stronger and really making a difference for Shaw and the Airmen specifically, Sergeant Howard added. Some of the topics brought up for the new year were: how to make NCOs write more effectively on EPRs and award packages; different types of professional development/self-improvement; really networking with each other to get things accomplished and make changes; and morale boosters. "We have a lot of ideas for events to boost morale and foster camaraderie around the base, but we could always use more," Sergeant Howard explained. "We're going to work hard to be better and have an amazing time doing it as we get more involved with the other organizations on base." Shaw Group 56 meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of the month; however, due to next month's Phase I/II exercise, the next meeting is scheduled Feb. 16 at noon in the Carolina Skies Club. For more information on the Shaw Group 56, contact Staff Sgt. April Howard at april.howard@shaw.af.mil.