NATO senior enlisted leader briefs Incirlik chiefs

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The senior enlisted leader at Allied Air Component Command Izmir visited Incirlik for a professional development seminar with the 11 chief master sergeants and chiefs-select here Jan. 28.

OR-9 Sandrine Vidal, of the French air force, traveled to Incirlik to brief at theprofessional development seminar. Chief Master Sgt. David J. Lawrence, the Kisling NCO Academy commandant, was also invited to brief the group.

OR-9 Vidal briefed the group about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and noncommissioned officer development within NATO. She explained the importance of enlisted leaders across allied forces working together, communicating and learning from one another. She also stressed that senior enlisted leaders should understand their role in the Air Force, but also how that role fits into NATO and the bigger picture.

"If we all have a better understanding of NATO, we can have a better relationship," she added.

Building relationships with your counterparts in NATO is vital to the organization's success, she said. She encouraged senior NCOs to get to know one another and to share information. This, she said, can improve NCO and senior NCO interaction and mission capability.

Other parts of the seminar focused on teambuilding, trust and enhancing the sense of camaraderie that exists among chiefs and chiefs-select at Incirlik, said Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Snoddy, the 39th ABW command chief.

"I conducted a couple of exercises that focused on trust, communication, situational awareness and self-awareness," said Chief Snoddy. "The chiefs learned quite a lot about themselves, their leadership style and trusting one another."

Chief Lawrence also updated the group on recent U.S. Air Force Enlisted Professional Military Education Curriculum changes.

The visit from Chief Lawrence and OR-9 Vidal concluded at the chief recognition ceremony that night, which was held to recognize and congratulate Senior Master Sergeants Brett Rogers, from the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Teresa Clapper, from the 39th Force Support Squadron, on their selection for promotion to the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force.