RAMSTEIN, Germany - Delegates from the NATO Command Structure and 10 NATO nations convened Feb. 27 to 28 at Allied Air Command, Ramstein Airbase, Germany for the first-ever Allied Air Command Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Leadership Seminar. The seminar sought to develop and empower NATO NCOs with a series of briefings and a discussion session to improve critical thinking and understanding of the Air operating environment.
In September 2017, SACEUR and SACT along with their Command Senior Enlisted Leaders signed the NATO NCO Bi-Strategic Command Strategy and NCO Guidelines in Tirana, Albania. This document identified three key areas to affect in order to maximise the effectiveness, efficiency, interoperability and readiness of the NATO NCO Corps: human capital, professional development and partnerships. Building on the Strategy and NCO Guidelines, Commander Allied Air Command, General Tod D Wolters endorsed the development of an Air domain leadership seminar for NCOs, stressing the need for NCO’s inputs to steer commanders on how best to use all of their members to achieve our objectives.
"A professional, empowered, globally astute NCO cadre is a key element of the leadership and effectiveness of our great military Alliance, Deputy Commander Allied Air Command, Air Marshal Stuart Evans said in his opening remarks. "For NATO to harness fully the influence of our multi-national NCO cadre as front line leaders in the professional delivery of Air Power we must continue to invest in their professional development and to recognise the outstanding contribution they provide in responding to an ever changing security environment,” he added.
Briefings included context on the current and perceived future threats, the integration of Modern Aircraft and threats in the Cyber domain, balanced alongside Information Technology resilience. Focusing the Seminar on leadership, Command Senior Enlisted Leaders (CSELs) then briefed their fellow NCOs on the perception and reputation of a 21st Century NCO, on how they lead in an international arena and on regaining air-mindedness. The Seminar closed after facilitated discussions had provided feedback, from breakout NCO groups, on themed questions regarding Leadership and Current or Future Operations to all delegates and Allied Air Command General Officers.
The Allied Air Command Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Seminar will provide an annual forum for NATO NCOs employed in the Air Domain. "This Leadership Seminar provides a unique opportunity to interact, improve understanding and to positively influence how we take forward professional NCO development”, said Allied Air Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Warrant Officer Jake Alpert.
Story by HQ Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office