MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- A team of Barnes Center for Enlisted Education instructors traveled to the Middle East recently to deliver noncommissioned officer leadership curriculum to members of the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
The team of one Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy instructor, two Noncommissioned Officer Academy instructors and two Airman Leadership School instructors taught the 20-day course to 19 warrant officers and six NCOs in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from Oct. 2 to Oct. 28.
“The course curriculum was developed to meet the requirements of the UAE training request which primarily focused on enlisted leadership fundamentals with joint professional military education characteristics,” Senior Master Sgt. Cody E. Stollings, SNCOA instructor and team lead, said.
Military training teams are sent to foreign nations after a request is submitted to the U.S. Embassy. Once approved by the embassy, the request is routed to the military service and down to the unit that can best meet the needs of the request, in this case, the Barnes Center. The members who travel on these teams are part of a diplomatic mission in support of the U.S. Embassy.
“We are not going there and saying, ‘this is the way’,” Stollings said. “We are offering our perspective of tried-and-true leadership skills, of what works and what doesn’t work for us. It’s their job to step back and figure out what works for them.”
The team built the curriculum for the course based on UAE’s request for training.
“Originally, we thought the language barrier would be a challenge, but that wasn’t the case,” Stollings said. “Their English language comprehension and motivation were high. The students were engaged and willing to learn.”
Staff Sgt. Osmany H. Linares, an ALS instructor from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, said he was amazed to find out how similar the classroom dynamics are between the two countries.
“Everyone’s attitude was extremely positive, and we were elated to share our knowledge with the students and the students reciprocated that enthusiasm by always treating us with the utmost respect,” Linares said.
All the instructors were recognized and coined for their work by the UAE Air Force Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman. If asked, Stollings said he would return to the country and lead another team.
“They were pleased with the course and were already looking to submit future training requests to partner with U.S. Air Force Enlisted Professional Military Training Instructors." he said.