Kadena hosts joint service leadership panel for new NCOs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie
  • 18th WIng Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Forty-four recently promoted staff sergeants attended the base's first joint service leadership panel during the quarterly NCO induction seminar on Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 4, 2012.

The joint service leadership panel, which is geared towards mentoring newly appointed staff sergeants, consisted of senior leaders from the Marines, Army and Navy as well as Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mark Marson, 18th Wing command chief.

"Deliberately developing the enlisted corps is a top priority for any senior enlisted leader," said Marson, who came up with the idea to add the joint services panel to the NCO induction seminar agenda. "It's the human capital investment that allows us to remain the world's greatest air, space, and cyberspace force."

Marson also said the Air Force and the 18th Wing places a lot of trust into our NCOs and it is shown by the valuable investment that is placed in their ranks with opportunities like the joint service leadership panel and induction seminar.

During the panel, senior leaders spoke to recently selected staff sergeants about leadership and decision making as a new NCO and front line supervisor.

"I thought it was cool to see their perspective on things, to see that even though we are in different services we still feel the same way about our NCOs," said Staff Sgt. Kaitlin Beall, a participant in the induction seminar and a member of the 18th Force Support Squadron.

Beall said that she now has a better understanding of leadership.

"I see things differently now, it gave me a better insight as to how I want to lead my Airmen one day."

The panel will be held during all future NCO induction seminars, which are held prior to the quarterly NCO induction ceremonies.