Europe Without Neutrals: NATO Pushes Interoperability For Switzerland

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

December 12, 2014
SHAPE leadership visits Swiss International NCO course
MONS, Belgium: The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe’s top leaders visited the Swiss Armed Forces Advanced International NCO Leadership Course Dec. 11-12 in Berne, Switzerland.
Gen. Phil Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Command Chief Master Sgt. Todd Small, Allied Command Operations Command Senior Enlisted Leader, took the opportunity to engage with students on the present and future of the NATO NCO corps.
“The Swiss Armed Forces spearheaded the development and delivery of international NCO leadership education,” said General Breedlove. “Their leadership has earned them a well-deserved reputation as visionaries within this distinct area of professional military education.
Gen. Phil Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe speaks to students of the Swiss Armed Forces International NCO Leadership Course in Berne Switzerland, 11 Dec 14. – Photo courtesy of Stefan Meienhofer
“As each student has discovered during the past two weeks, these International NCO Leadership courses intrigue participants by engaging them on topics vital to the success of every military organization–leadership, mentorship, communication and ethics,” he added.
Firmly committed to the development of its NCO Corps, the Alliance has worked for the past decade to enhance NATO’s NCO education and engagement programs.
“Some of these developments include establishing Command Senior Enlisted Leader positions across the NATO command structure, developing NCO recognition programs such as Allied Command Operations’ Military Members of the Year Award, creating the Bi-Strategic Command NCO Strategy and Guidelines and, earlier this year, launching the first ever internationally endorsed reference curriculum for NCO professional military education,” said General Breedlove.
While the Advanced leadership course is tailored to NCO’s in the rank of OR-8/9 there are many PME opportunities for the NATO NCO corps.
Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office

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