USAFE Airmen exchange ideas with Romanian counterparts

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tony Wickman
  • USAFE Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The United States Air Forces in Europe command chief and three other Ramstein senior noncommissioned officers visited Romanian Air Force senior enlisted leaders at the Boboc Training Center, Romania, Sep. 22-27 as part of an ongoing USAFE theater security cooperation engagement. 

Chief Master Sgt. Pamela Derrow, USAFE command chief, said the visit was a continuation of the collaboration that was started by her predecessor, Chief Master Sgt. Gary Coleman. 

"Chief Coleman hosted a delegation of Romanian NCOs and maistri militari from the Romanian Air Force and visited some of the schools that train our U.S. Air Force volunteers," said the chief. "This trip was our turn to get to know their professional military education system to exchange information and get to know each other better." 

Senior Master Sgt. Kelly Burkhard, USAFE enlisted programs superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Ronald Luvisi, USAFE PME and force development manager, and Master Sgt. Rod Simington, 86th Maintenance Operations Squadron maintenance operations flight superintendent, accompanied the chief on the trip. The U.S. Air Force senior NCOs familiarized themselves with Romanian enlisted development, education and technical training, and senior NCO and NCO academy organizational structure, roles and mission.

"We were there to talk about how we develop and grow NCOs. One of their challenges is their NCOs do not carry the same amount of responsibilities that we do because of their officer and enlisted structure," Sergeant Burkhard said. "So, by sharing and exchanging information with them, they can see what roles and responsibilities we have and what they are capable of doing as NCOs, and that can help change their military culture." 

Sergeant Luvisi said their Romanian counterparts were eager to learn from the USAFE Airmen about how the U.S. Air Force develops its enlisted force. 

"I was there as the force development manager and my role was to sit and look at what they were doing and compare it to what we are doing," Sergeant Luvisi said. "We were also there to provide the technical answers to their questions about things like how we do force development, which Airmen we send or don't send to school, and how our instructors are taught." 

To compliment the PME aspect of the visit, Sergeant Simington provided inputs on how the U.S. Air Force conducts basic military training. 

"While Senior Master Sgt. Luvisi was the technical piece for PME, I was the technical expert for basic military training. In the school we visited they do professional development and technical training, as well as their basic military training," said Sergeant Simington, who was a BMT instructor for three years. "We met with their basic trainees and their senior NCOs and answered their questions they had on how we do basic training compared with how they do their basic training." 

Part of the challenge the Romanian Air Force faces is they went to an all volunteer force in 2004 instead of using conscripts. The change shrank their force from more than 300,000 to currently around 11,000 people. This has caused a shift in how their military leadership deals with and retains their people. 

"It shifted their officers' thoughts on how to deal with their enlisted people. Before it was very directive to a conscript, but as a volunteer force they have to find other ways to talk and motivate their people," Sergeant Luvisi said. "It is also part of their retention efforts because their Airmen want to be there and they want to keep them." 

To help retain qualified people, The USAFE Airmen explained how the U.S. military uses bonuses, education benefits, and a sense of pride and purpose in serving their country to help recruit and retain personnel. 

Each of the USAFE Airmen walked away with a greater appreciation for the efforts of their Romanian counterparts and for their own service. 

"The (Romanian) NCOs are very dedicated to their country and their service, and they are excited about their heritage and their future. They want to be there and do the job. They are putting in the time and effort, even though they don't have as much with regard to resources. They are doing a great job and paving the way," Sergeant Luvisi said. "I will remember this for the rest of my life. It was very moving and re-blued me. This helped refocus and reminded me of who I wanted to be as an Airman and to sit a little taller in my chair." 

On the horizon, Chief Derrow said USAFE and the Romanian Air Force will continue to learn from one another and develop concepts together. 

"There will be more experience exchanges, student exchanges and mutual projects between our schools. By supporting each other, we will succeed together."