US Air Force provides Senior NCO mobile education course

A team of three instructors from the U.S. Air Force SeniorNCO Academy visited Amman, Jordan, to provide the first-ever Senior NCO mobileeducation course from June 10-27.

The instructors partnered with Royal Jordanian Air Forcetranslators to present the two-week course to 30 RJAF senior enlisted personnel.

“This was an awesome opportunity to share concepts ofeducation to move our teams and our forces forward and to build betterpartnerships,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jennifer Kersey, 9th AirExpeditionary Task Force - Levant command chief.

Although the course was condensed from the full five-weekcourse held at Maxwell Air Force Base Gunter Annex, Alabama, it included keyskills including visionary and ethical leadership, cross cultural competence,and self-awareness.

“We hope the students here use the tools they’ve learnedover the last couple of weeks and share with their subordinates,” Kersey said.“This is a great opportunity for us and them to grow and make a better, moreforward thinking force. That’s what we need for the future.”

Chief Master Sgt. Saif Al-Dammin of the Royal Jordanian AirForce envisioned a stronger, leadership-based RJAF enlisted force when he setthe plan in motion to have the class taught in Jordan. This was after hehimself attended the full course at Gunter Annex.

“I was invited by Chief Wright [Chief Master Sergeant of theU.S. Air Force] to attend the course in Alabama, and I know how important it isfor Senior NCOs to go through this education,” Al-Dammin said.  “Old ways won’t get you new results, applyingthe constants of innovation and bringing new ideas to the Air Force is a bigdriver for me. The context of the course is very strong for the goals of ourAir Force.”

The course also provides followership, critical thinking,problem solving and team building tools, all of which empower airmen and assistwith NCO and officer relationships.

“Our officers in the U.S. empower their senior enlistedmembers precisely because we have education like this,” said U.S. Air ForceSenior Master Sgt. Jason Key, SNCO Academy mobile course flight instructor.“These classes will help officers empower you if you show them you have theseleadership skills. This is going to be a huge culture shift for them wheretheir officers can increase their relationship in terms of trust. These courseswill give the Senior NCOs tools like thinking rationally in terms of ideas,data, and not only bringing problems but solutions as they think outside thebox.”

Improving the officer NCO dynamic was a deciding factor forAl-Dammin, who convinced his leadership to hold the course.

“We can fill the gap between our officers and Senior NCOswith required knowledge from this course,” Al-Dammin said. “When NCOs areequipped with the rules and responsibilities required of them and know theirexpected leadership role, they can communicate with their officers and buildtrust and confidence in their capability to lead and assume higher leadershipresponsibilities.”

Al-Dammin spoke with the RJAF students himself before theclasses started to ensure they had a high level of motivation and the desire totake this knowledge back to their work centers.

“Hopefully this kind of training will stay available to ussince it improves our work strategy while widening our vision for leading,adapting and changing, all with the main goal of making us great leaders,” saidRJAF Warrant Officer 1st Class (U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeantequivalent) Mostafa Otoum, course student.

As the class progressed, the students and instructors becamemore comfortable with one another, and even met occasionally for dinner.

“I enjoy the Jordanian airmen educating us on their languageand culture,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Ray, SNCO Academymobile course flight instructor.  “I lovehow excited they are to share so many aspects of their culture and teach us wordsand phrases, share food and drinks, and tell us about their customs andtraditions.”

This time spent was important not only to the students andinstructors, but also to the leaders in higher headquarters.

“The most profitable investment we can make in others is ourtime,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Drinkard, command chief forthe U.S. Air Forces Central Command. “Investing in human capital is fundamentalto building leaders. A professionalized and empowered NCO Corps is our coalition’sgreatest competitive advantage over our common adversaries.”

This partner-building instruction came to a close with thestudents dressed in Class B uniforms, equivalent to U.S. Air Force dress blues,gathered together to accept their graduation certificates.

Source: US Air Force