Bilateral training benefits U.S., Japanese enlisted leaders

  • Published
  • By Capt. Teresa Sullivan
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) --  Nine Japan Air Self-Defense Force senior enlisted leaders took part in their first U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Symposium here as part of a bilateral exchange.

Fifty-eight U.S. Air Force and Japanese senior NCOs participated in academics and training June 19 to 23 to learn how to be better first sergeants.

The Japanese senior NCOs said they were eager to learn the ways of American first sergeants.

"It is a privilege to be invited to this training," said Master Sgt. Kurakata Hiroshi of the Japan Defense Agency's Air Staff Office at Ichigayahonmura, Tokyo.

"The U.S. Air Force has a special first sergeant system. We don't have a system like this, so I want to learn as much as I can to pass on to our junior airmen and NCOs," Sergeant Hiroshi said.

The symposium is a condensed version of the 30-day first sergeant in-residence course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. The premise of the training was that "people are our business," and that's what the trainees examined in an effort to introduce the skills necessary to fill the first sergeant position.

First sergeants serve as the liaison between the commanding officer and junior enlisted members, dealing with personnel issues, disciplinary matters and the overall well-being of junior Airmen.

This course crosses cultural lines because whether an NCO is wearing a Japanese or U.S. uniform, he or she has to be attentive to troop morale and welfare in order to be successful, said Senior Master Sgt. James Ford from Air University's First Sergeant Academy.

"This course is about taking care of your people. No matter what country you're from, this has to happen in order to be successful," he said. "It's just great to have the Japanese here with us learning how to be better first sergeants."

The highlight for Sergeant Ford, who served as lead instructor, was during an after-hours question-and-answer session, he said.

"The Japanese troops were very curious to learn about their roles and relationships between them and the commander and them and their subordinates," the instructor said. "They had some very specific questions that I was able to help them with."

"I enjoyed having (the Japanese NCOs) in the course. It was great to be able to share different perspectives and see how cultures handled different situations," said Master Sgt. Harvey Bell, a 35th Mission Support Squadron first sergeant trainee. "They made me value the perspective from another nation's senior NCO corps."

Not only will the U.S. and Japanese first sergeants profit from the knowledge gained through attending the symposium, but they will reap the benefits of further strengthening the bilateral alliance.

"This symposium is yet another shining example of the U.S. and Japan partnership. It's history in the making," said Chief Master Sgt. Tom Missel, 35th Fighter Wing command chief. "We are in the people business versus the machinery business, and I hope this will be one of many more educational exchanges we have with the Japanese."