RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Two instructors visited the Romanian Warrant Officer and NCO Military School at Boboc Air Force Base, Romania, for two weeks to show 12 Romanian future and current NCOs how the U.S. Air Force develops and trains its NCOs.
Tech. Sgts. Arionea Adams and Tamera Hall, Kisling NCOA instructors, shared the knowledge they gained when they became instructors at the school house in Kapaun Air Station, Germany.
"What we did was a consolidated course and shared highlights of it, so they could incorporate into what they are already doing," said Hall. "We weren't trying to change what they do, just supplement it."
The Romanian air force is transitioning from a lecture-based study to a more interactive experience, in which Kisling has experience.
"We found that we have the same or similar struggles whether it's with discipline, motivation or communication in general," said Hall. "They were very grateful to know we face the same struggles that they do."
Adams and Hall may have been the instructors teaching but they were also students developing their cultural awareness and critical thinking that they can bring back to their classes.
"(At the academy) we talk about the tools we should have when we engage with different cultures but the firsthand experiences, can definitely add to the examples and ability to relate to the material even more and help portray that to our students," said Hall.
During their future classes they can discuss their time in Romania when they learned traditional Romanian dances and shared an American tradition - line dancing; the opportunity, they said, to build partnerships between allies was gratifying.
"This opportunity is humbling, to be in a position to influence and build partnerships; I don't have the words for it. I am grateful that I was selected to do so," said Adams.
Whether it was sharing best methods to teach NCOs or how Americans celebrate the 4th of July, the two weeks of instruction came to an end. However, Hall and Adams both said the teachers and students left with experiences and ways to develop future leaders of both Air Forces.