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Partner nation enlisted leaders integral to SELS theme

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brannen Parrish
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. --  In keeping with the theme of the 2010 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit, "Deliberately Developing Airmen for Global Response," enlisted leaders from 18 partner and coalition countries participated here May 4-6.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy highlighted the importance of international partnerships in an increasingly global environment and directed an increased number of enlisted leaders from coalition countries receive invitations.

"You build relationships before you need them so that when you need them the relationship has already been established," said Chief Roy. "There is a two-fold benefit to having our international partners attend. For our partner nations it reinforces the view that we are here to work with them, and because we can learn from the unique perspectives our partner nations bring to the table."

Highlighting the emphasis on global interaction, a panel of senior enlisted military leaders from five partner nations fielded questions about leadership from their countries' perspectives, during the second day of the summit. The panel included members from the Czech Republic, Belgium, Lithuania, Croatia and Singapore.

The partner nation members said the summit was an effective two-way dialog that will help further build relations.

"I'm very impressed by the way the summit was organized," said ME5 Tan Kok Beng of the Singapore air force. "I'm happy to see that senior enlisted leaders come together to take ownership and develop the enlisted corps and that senior commanders were here to share their perspectives in an open manner."

The Singapore air force has a similar forum for developing their corps, he said.

According to Command Sergeant Mogakolodi Sebego, of the Botswana air force, the experience reinforces the active partnership between the two nations, particularly during disasters.

"This has been a very good experience," the command sergeant major said. "You are doing things professionally and have invited us here to improve how we work together. U.S. military forces have contributed a great deal to Botswana. Combat engineers have been extremely helpful, providing relief when we have experienced flooding and other natural disasters."

Chief Master Sgt. Brook McLean, command chief for Pacific Air Forces, said partnerships are of particular importance to success in the Pacific theatre.

"PACAF covers an incredible amount of responsibility and the world is so big we can't go it alone," Chief McLean said. "Our partner nations have the same desire for security and stability that we have and we have to look at opportunities to work with them."

Chief Master Sgt. Pamela Derrow, command chief for U.S. Air Forces Europe, said enlisted partnerships are vital to the USAFE and Air Force mission.

"It's so important that he (Gen. Roger Brady, USAFE commander) wrote personal letters to the NATO air chiefs asking them to allow their senior enlisted leaders to attend this event," Chief Derrow said. "As a result 12 NATO partners were able to attend."