Senior U.S., Japanese enlisted leaders take bilateral education to new heights

  • Published
  • By Capt. Teresa Sullivan
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Lining the front row of a packed house, nine Japan Air Self-Defense Force senior enlisted leaders took part in their first-ever U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Symposium here, as part of a bilateral exchange milestone.

Fifty-eight U.S. and Japanese senior noncommissioned officers participated in academics and training June 19-23 to learn how to take better care of their junior enlisted troops and commanders in the esteemed position of first sergeant.

The Japanese senior enlisted leaders said they were eager to learn the ways of U.S. 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 in 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.”

The symposium is a condensed version of the 30-day first sergeant in-residence course at Maxwell AFB, 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 you’re wearing a Japanese or U.S. uniform, in order to be successful we have to be attentive to troop morale and welfare, according to Senior Master Sgt. James Ford, from Air University’s First Sergeant Academy, who flew here from Maxwell to be the lead instructor.

“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 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 explained. “They had some very specific questions that I was able to help them with.”

The bilateral aspect of the training was enlightening for the U.S. participants as well as the JASDF.

“I enjoyed having them 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, 35th Mission Support Squadron first sergeant trainee. “They made me value the perspective from another nation's senior NCO core.”

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., 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.”