Air Force uniform heads to French army

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tim Helton
  • Kosovo Force Press Office
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AFPN) --  When a French army sergeant asked Col. David Adams for his uniform, the colonel did not know what to think. When working at a NATO base with 30 different nations, the real meaning is not always in the message.

Sgt. Willy Brunet, a signal noncommissioned officer with the French National Intelligence Center here, wanted to exchange uniforms so the Air Force uniform could be placed on display at his regiment along with military uniforms of signal people from other nations.

“Once Willy started talking about their military signal uniform display, he had my attention,” said Colonel Adams, the Kosovo Force headquarters senior national representative. “I thought this was a wonderful way to show heritage and pride in professional skills between nations.”

The colonel learned there was an older version of the U.S. Air Force uniform on display, but the battle dress uniform had eluded the regiment’s collection.

“Their American display is the old green fatigue uniform, and they have been wanting a current uniform set,” Colonel Adams said. “So, when Willy learned I was a communications officer, he thought it would be very significant for his unit to have a uniform set of a U.S. Air Force communications officer.”

Besides the language barriers, making the exchange was another challenge. There was no script or official document to explain protocol, but it was important enough for the senior French representative to oversee.

“This was significant because it shows the strong (camaraderie) the military develops regardless of the country they are from, the rank, the branch or the hierarchic position they hold,” said French army Brig. Gen. Jean-Claude Allard, KFOR assistant chief of staff for operations. “It was important for me to be here because of the friendship I have developed with the American contingent and specifically Colonel David Adams.”

Although the idea came from Sergeant Brunet, Colonel Adams said he is proud to know his uniform will become part of a multinational display of communications heritage.

“Each nation brings skilled and experienced communications and signal personnel to the operations, and I believe the sharing of military skills, military heritage and military tradition is as significant in multinational environments as is the sharing of cultures between individuals,” he said.

As for Colonel Adams’ recently acquired French army uniform, the colonel accepted it in behalf of the Air Force, and he has a couple of ideas for it.

“I’m considering presenting it to one of the electronics training squadrons at Keesler Air Force Base [Miss.] so Airmen can see the uniform of a fellow signals soldier,” he said. “Many of our U.S. military operations will be multinational, and our own awareness of, and respect for, the uniforms and skills of our partners in arms is appropriate.”