U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
September 27, 2013
Poland’s top enlisted airman tours PME facilities
By Master Sgt. Norris Agnew
USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs
One of 48 F-16 Fighting Falcons sold to Poland by the United States under a contract signed in 2003
KAPAUN AIR STATION, Germany: Poland’s air force senior enlisted leader is partnering with U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa officials to strengthen his service’s operational capacity. But his efforts are focused on a more foundational level of airpower – enlisted professional military education.
Warrant Officer 1st Class Krzysztof Gadowski, the top enlisted advisor for the Polish air force, visited the Ramstein First Term Airman’s Center, Kisling NCO Academy, and the Airman Leadership School Sept. 17-19. The trip included an overview of the academic curriculum, multiple sessions of observing instructors interact with students, and one-on-one discussions with the enlisted leaders of both PME facilities.
Partnership-building activities between USAFE-AFAFRICA and the Polish air force aren’t new. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the two have shared a strong alliance. For proof, look no further than the establishment of a U.S. aviation detachment at Lask Air Base, Poland, in 2012; recurring air exercises such as Screaming Eagle and Brilliant Ardent that seek to improve the interoperability of the two air forces; and the 2010 agreement made between the 86th Airlift Wing here, and the 3rd Airlift Wing at Powidz Air Base, Poland, to become sister wings.
Now that the air operational side of this relationship appears solid, Gadowski is attempting to glean best practices from USAFE-AFAFRICA’s professional military education programs.
“It’s nice to see the U.S. Air Force system myself, especially the education system for NCOs,” said Gadowski. “I hope that some parts of this system I will be able to adopt for our NCO education system.”
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“(USAFE-AFAFRICA) Airmen have great combat experience,” he said. “As a NATO member, Polish airmen have to achieve the same standard, so we have to learn from our (USAFE-AFAFRICA) partners.
“For many years, we have been working to adopt our NCO system to yours, so that we can make our NCO corps stronger,” he continued.
Poland is a priority nation in terms of the Air Force’s Building Partnership Capacity initiative, a core function of airpower doctrine.
“This is basically a continuation of our strong partnership with Poland’s air force that started about three years ago,” said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Moore, NCOA commandant. “Our two air forces are already partnering on a more operational level, but from a leadership and management capacity, this is how we are helping them professionalize their NCO corps.
“This is really important, because when we deploy together we can interoperate and take care of the mission,” Moore said. “In my opinion, all of that starts with enlisted force development.”
Throughout the three-day visit, Gadowski was invited into different classrooms to observe actual academic instruction, allowing him to gauge the interaction between instructor and students that serves as the foundation of PME training.
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“The Polish air force has many years of tradition,” said Gadowski. “Tradition is not easy to change. But what I see here with the education system would be a good change for our air force.”
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Adopting a more cutting-edge approach to airpower is a daunting task for any leader, especially when it involves developing and empowering an entire enlisted corps.
For that reason, Poland’s top airman doesn’t mind going back to the classroom, especially if the lessons learned are exactly what he needs to take his air force to the next level.
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