First Romanian NCO graduates Kisling NCO Academy

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Gino Mattarano
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
KAPAUN AIR STATION, Germany --  The first official international student graduated from the Kisling Noncommissioned Officer Academy Thursday as part of USAFE efforts to build the capabilities of its partner nations.

Romanian air force Plutonier (technical sergeant equivalent) Diana-Cristina Mireuta completed the six-week course alongside her U.S Air Force NCO peers, and will return to Romania armed with new tools in her NCO tool bag. 

"I really didn't know what to expect before I came here," said Plutonier Mireuta. "I thought the emphasis would be on physical training, but I was so happy with all the leadership training we received!" 

Plutonier Mireuta attended the NCO Academy as part of the International Military Education and Training program, a vital part of USAFE's security assistance, according to Maj. Robert Firman, Deputy Chief of the Europe and Eurasia Branch, USAFE Plans and Programs Directorate. When working with developing nations or new members of NATO, USAFE uses IMET to place particular emphasis on NCO development.

"We need to partner with coalition nations to win today's fight," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy. "When we have professional military education opportunities like this, they learn about us, but we also learn about our service through the interaction. Each military can use the opportunity for continued growth. 

"In my previous position as the U.S. Pacific Command senior enlisted leader, I had the opportunity to travel to more than 25 different countries," he continued. "The strongest military countries in the world have a strong, professional enlisted corps. We are committed to working with our coalition partners." 

One of the challenges for Plutonier Mireuta was adapting to a new culture and interacting with people who came from backgrounds very different from her own. 

"We were under the communist bloc for so many years, and even though we have had Western influence since 1989, we still remember when things were very different," she said. 

Plutonier Mireuta was 11 years old when the regime changed, but still remembers waiting in line at the store for government-controlled food distribution, and waiting for hours, not knowing what they would receive. 

As Western influence began to creep into Romania, Plutonier Mireuta can pinpoint the one moment in her childhood when she was sure that she wanted to know more about the West - a 1992 Michael Jackson concert. 

"That concert opened my eyes to Western culture," she said. "I didn't just become a fan - his music made me want to know more about the West. I began to study English by translating Michael Jackson songs. As the years went by, I learned more English by watching Western movies with subtitles, and was fortunate enough to study English in school, also." 

Plutonier Mireuta, who joined the Romanian Air Force in 2002, began her career as a radar technician, but in 2004, the Romanian Air Force decided to establish a career field for air traffic controllers, and she was one of the first to volunteer for the job, thanks again, in part, to her English-language skills. 

Plutonier Mireuta is currently assigned as an air traffic controller at the 90th Airlift Base in Bucharest, Romania, and recently completed a degree in International Relations and European Studies, which she says helped prepare her to succeed at the NCO Academy. 

Retired Col. John Bowley, former commander of College of Enlisted Professional Military Education was excited to hear that enlisted PME was being taught to an international student. 

"The reason we're all here is to be guardians of freedom," said Colonel Bowley. As long as freedom exists, people can talk about subjects that have eternal weights of value. And now we have one of their young leaders who has the opportunity to showcase what it means to live in freedom. 

Colonel Bowley paraphrased a quote from Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's book, "On Combat." 

"A military man who was watching his men go into combat said, 'Where do we get such people?' And a fellow leader said, 'We build them, we nurture them.' We are the warrior clan - the brotherhood of arms." 

"We need more opportunities for joint and coalition professional military education," continued Colonel Bowley. "We have a strong enlisted corps, but opportunities like this will make us stronger. Professional Military Education is what makes us the professional corps we are." 

Plutonier Mireuta says that typically officers do most of the supervision in the Romanian Air Force, so NCOs don't get a lot of opportunities to lead, but she will take the knowledge she learned at the NCO Academy and do her best to apply it at her home station. 

"I'm going to use my my personal influence and leadership knowledge that I've learned to make my little world a better place to work in" she said. "I don't have a lot of authority, but I will do whatever is in my power to influence those around me. 

And does she think other international students would benefit from the NCO Academy experience? She responded with an emphatic, "yes!" 

Chief Master Sgt. Pamela Derrow, USAFE's command chief, has followed Plutonier Mireuta's progress with interest and was thrilled with her success in the program.

"Her success at the NCO Academy paves the way for more international students to attend," Chief Derrow said. "This international military partnering directly supports USAFE's Priority of Building Partnership Capacity. We're looking forward to training more international students at the Kisling NCO Academy."