FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines -- A senior enlisted U.S. soldier addressed Armed Forces of the Philippines' non-commissioned officers during a visit, April 17, at the advance military schools on Fort Magsaysay.
Command Sgt. Maj. Curtis H. Arnold Jr., sergeant major of the 196th Infantry Brigade, made the visit during a brief break from the field training exercise portion of Balikatan 2012 in order to share his leadership experiences of his 22 years of military service with the students of the 16-week course stating, "to be an effective leader one must be visible, viable and verifiable."
When asked about the difference between U.S. and AFP soldiers by AFP soldier, Sgt. Rommel M. Espinoza, student at the Advance NCO School, Arnold simply replied that overall they were all the same and that infantrymen, no matter if they are from U.S. or Republic of the Philippines, have an uncommon bond.
After the discussion Arnold was invited to stay for lunch in the form of a Boodle Fight, which is a traditional military style of eating where long tables are set with banana leaves and a caboodle of food is placed on the leaf. A variety of meats, rice, noodles and vegetables are mounded as participants eat without using utensils.
Arnold thanked his hosts for allowing him to come and speak and said he expects to see an increased and continued partnership between the U.S. Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for years to come.
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