Training programs welcome international interest

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Lake
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL-GUNTER AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  Air Force officer and NCO training programs were showcased earlier this week when the commander of South Korea’s Education and Training Command visited schools here May 1 to 2.

Lt. Gen. Youngha Lee of the Republic of South Korea Headquarters for Air Force Education and Training Command in Jinju met with senior base leaders. He toured the Air Force officer accession and training schools and Air University.

Col. Jonathan Klaaren, Squadron Officer College vice commandant, said General Lee's visit to his school went very well.

“Senior Airman Min Shu, the SOC’s resource advisor, is fluent in Korean and gave the SOC’s mission briefing in the general’s native language,” he said. “General Lee and his staff were impressed.”

Colonel Klaaren said the general was interested to learn how the school educates company grade officers.
 
“He took note of the fact that the Air and Space Basic Course concentrates on being an ‘Airman first,’ while SOS focuses on leadership,” the colonel said.

The senior South Korean official applauded the Airmen who briefed him, and said he plans to take back some of the training practices from the Air Force schools to improve training with South Korean airmen.

“These types of exchanges strengthen the relationship and warfighting capability of our two nations,” General Lee said. “I look forward to getting back to (South Korea) so we can apply some of the concepts I have seen to our system.”