Air Force NCOs train at Battlestaff Course

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Hross (left) and Army Staff Sgt. Stanley Warf work together on a class exercise. (Photo by Rob Schuette)

Army Master Sgt. John Kolasienski, the NCO Academy Battlestaff NCO Course manager, said it was the first time Air Force personnel have attended and graduated from the Battlestaff NCO Course. The course ran from Sept. 16-Oct. 7. The 21-day course teaches the major subject areas of graphics and overlays; plans, orders and annexes; military intelligence; combat support; warfighter skills; and command post exercise.

The Air Force personnel contacted the NCO Academy about taking the course.

"I hope it's the first step toward developing a good, solid relationship between the two services at the NCO Academy," Kolasienski said. "The Air Force personnel were a little apprehensive when they first arrived, but the small groups we work in took them in and immediately made them feel part of the team."

In addition to the Air Force and Army personnel, the NCO Academy also supports other services or missions whenever possible. Students from the Coast Guard can attend its Basic and Advanced NCO courses and the Primary Leadership Development Course.

In December, the NCO Academy will begin offering a Basic Contractor Orientation Course (BCOT) to civilian contractors who are going to deploy to Bosnia. The NCO Academy was tasked by the U.S. Army Reserve Command to offer this course, said Sgt. 1st Class Harold Fredd, the NCO Academy BCOT manager.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. (E-6) Perry D. McDaniel of the 41st WMD/CST of Louisville, Ky., said he knew absolutely nothing about the Army organizational structure before he took the Battlestaff NCO Course. It was important for him to learn more about the Army's way of doing things because the team he works for is comprised of about 60 percent Army personnel and 40 percent Air Force personnel, he said.

"This course really tested me," McDaniel said. "It is the most challenging course I've taken."

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. (E-7) John Emly, the senior operations NCO for the 41st, said the course is required for Air Force personnel who are part of WMD/CSTs. The teams consist of 22 Army and/or Air Force Active Guard/Reserve soldiers each, he said.

The role of the WMD/CSTs is to assist civilian first responders in responding to disasters or emergencies. The teams provide assistance to local authorities in contacting state and federal agencies. The events can include a wide range of crises from tornadoes to a potential nuclear, biological and chemical incident, such as the Sarafin gas attack in Japan several years ago.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Hross, an operations modeling NCO for the 11th WMD/CST of Waterville, Maine, is the only Air Force servicemember in his unit.

"I think in order to be successful here, as well as back at my job, it centers on teamwork," Hross said. "Being in the Air Force was not an obstacle. I was helped by a number of soldiers or I wouldn't have made it through the course."

The three Air Force personnel said they developed a lot of friendships and contact points with soldiers if they needed information about the Army in the future.

Staff Sgt. Stephen Soucy, the Army counterpart for Hross with the 11th WMD/CST, said it is important to interact with the Air Force and learn how they fit into the teams.

Sgt. 1st Class Donald Wilson, the intelligence NCO with the North Central Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center (joint services) of Fort Sheridan, Ill., said it was good for him to exchange insights with the Air Force personnel and learn about their organizational roles.