Sgt. Maj. Mohammad Ismal Mohammad Al-Smadi, sergeant major of the Jordanian Armed Forces, left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric C. Dostie, command sergeant major of U.S. Army Central, participate in discussions during the second Multinational Noncommissio...

Partner nations from the Arabian Peninsula, Greater Levant, and Central and South Asia receive a demonstration on how infantry Soldiers use a terrain model while visiting the Advanced Leaders Course during the second Multinational Noncommissioned Off...

U.S. Army Central and partner nations watch airborne trainees jump from a 34-foot tower at the U.S. Army Airborne School while attending the second Multinational Noncommissioned Officer Symposium Aug 1-5, 2016, at Fort Benning, Ga. Participants obser...

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE. S.C. - A noncommissioned officer is considered the backbone of the Army. U.S. Army Central had the opportunity to showcase how the U.S. Army develops them during their second Multinational NCO Symposium Aug. 1-5, at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Partner nation NCOs and officers from the Arabian Peninsula, Greater Levant, and Central and South Asia joined USARCENT to discuss and learn on how to better develop Soldiers and future NCOs. The symposium was hosted by Command Sgt. Maj. Eric C. Dostie, USARCENT command sergeant major.

"The importance of this symposium is really two-fold," said Dostie. "One is to get the information across to our partners, and two is just coming together and having professional discussions, meeting with each other, and building relationships. That's how we get the most value from these type of events."

Sidney Curtis Sr., USARCENT multilateral events planner, said events like the symposium gives USARCENT the opportunity to meet with its counterparts from the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to develop a great working relationship and help partner nations as they continue to develop their NCO Corps.

"We wanted to show the other countries how we develop and mentor our new Soldiers so that they can go back and develop their lower enlisted personnel," said Curtis.

During the symposium partner nations observed the U.S. Army's process of recruiting and training Soldiers. Participants observed how the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System operates by touring the NCO Academy's Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course and Airborne School.

"We were able to show them the U.S. Army method of how we develop our NCO Corps and how we invest a lot of time and resources into building NCOs from the time we recruit them, to the time we pin them sergeant major and the many steps they go through," said Dostie.

Partnered countries were also briefed on the different NCOPDS opportunities available to their soldiers in the United States.

"I took many positive things from the symposium," said Sgt. 1st Class Assylbek Satybaldin, Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense special operations office NCO. "Seeing the briefs of other countries and how they develop their NCO Corps was very interesting and very informative."

Partner nations briefed symposium attendees on the structure of their country's NCO Corps and how they train and develop future leaders.

"The training was outstanding and a very good opportunity to share ideas and to learn from the others, which can help enhance the way you train your Soldiers and NCOs," said Sgt. Maj. Mohammad Ismal Mohammad Al-Smadi, sergeant major of the Jordanian Armed Forces.