Kadena Airman attends Singaporean leadership school Published Feb. 24, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Angelique Perez 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- A Kadena Air Base senior NCO is attending the advanced leadership program at Singapore's armed forces warrant officer school in February. Senior Master Sgt. David Duncan, director of operations at the Kadena AB Erwin Professional Military Education Center, is the only international student in the three-week program. The Singapore program is designed for warrant officers who have been wearing the rank for two years and is similar to the Air Force's Senior NCO Academy. While Sergeant Duncan is attending as a student, he is also auditing the program to search of valuable insights to add to U.S. Air Force professional military education. The Erwin PME Center's staff hopes to build a lasting partnership with the Singaporean school. "The faculty and students here are extremely open and very curious to (learn) how the U.S. Air Force enlisted corps is trained and developed," Sergeant Duncan said. "We are hoping to bring two Singaporean staff sergeants through our Kadena NCO Academy this summer." While in Singapore, Sergeant Duncan is experiencing a wide-ranging curriculum focused on leadership, team building and technology. In addition, he is taking courses on field exercises, mentoring, United Nations peacekeeping, media relations and new developments in air, land and sea warfare. In turn, the Singaporean students are learning the American and U.S. Air Force perspective, courtesy of Sergeant Duncan. According to the Kadena PME director, there are many similarities between the U.S. and Singaporean militaries. "The discussions we have in class are very similar to those I have had as a student at all levels in the U.S. Air Force," said Sergeant Duncan, adding that the diversity of Singapore and its military is impressive. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page