HOHENFELS, Germany - Soldiers and Airmen participated in an Air Advisor Academic class that was held March 14-18 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) the purpose was to expand their knowledge and skills for future interactions with multinational partners and allies.
The name of the class may have the word "AIR" in it, but according to Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Sandlin, a Timberwolf Observer Coach Trainer (OCT), Battalion Fire Support OCT said, "It was how to advise and actually communicate with multinationals with whatever mission that we have, whether it's here at Hohenfels or if we go to another country and help train Soldiers."
So why were Soldiers from JMRC participating in an Air Advisor class? Mr. Stephen Caton, Air Advisor Academic subject matter expert explains, "The individuals that work here at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center work with a lot of foreign partners and in that capacity they are advisors. They advise on how to operate in the exercise environment, which of course they take home with them and can therefore train other people."
The course of instruction covered many different topics such as security co-operation, interactions with other advisors, and roles of advisors in international affairs to name just a few. It wasn't all just PowerPoint slides and note taking. The students had to pair up into teams to demonstrate anything from making a cake using a microwave to the rocky sit-up to create abs of steel to an instructor that was pretending to be someone that spoke little English and from a different country. The instructors were looking for how well they tried to communicate, the words and slang used, mannerisms, speed of their speech, how they tried to make their subject relatable and interesting to the person to name a few and they weren't graded just critiqued.
The training and knowledge offered in the class isn't just for the Air Force, any military branch member can take part in it. Master Sgt. Jason Tonkinson, Bullseye OCT Team senior enlisted advisor stated, "Understand it's not just Air Force centric, it is military wide and it is focused on a US military member being able to advise and assist any foreign military agency that comes through."
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