Base hosts foreign enlisted leaders

Published May 13, 2009
By Susan Griggs
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler was one of the stops on a two-week tour that gave senior enlisted leaders from partner nations a cradle-to-grave look at the careers of U.S. Air Force enlisted members.

Enlisted leaders from Australia, Bulgaria, Japan, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore and Malaysia participated in the familiarization trip sponsored by Pacific Air Force and U.S. Air Force-Europe.

At Keesler, the group was hosted by Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers, commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Paul Moreau, command chief, 2nd Air Force, and Col. Christopher Valle, commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Alex Perry, 81st Training Wing.

The trip began April 30 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, with briefings and discussions. May 3, the group arrived at Maxwell AFB, Ala., for a week-long summit before arriving at Keesler Saturday. Sunday was set aside to tour New Orleans, play golf or relax.

Monday, the foreign enlisted leaders had breakfast with 81st Training Group instructors before a series of briefings by 2nd Air Force, 81st TRW and 81st TRG leaders. They toured Keesler Medical Center, observed air traffic control training in the 334th Training Squadron and visited one of the student dormitories and spoke with its residents.

Wednesday, the visiting military leaders were at Randolph AFB, Texas, for talks with Air Education and Training Command officials and an overview of international training and education. Representatives of the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron, Air Force Recruiting Service, Air Force Personnel Center and Air Expeditionary Force Center also gave presentations.

Today, the group visits Lackland AFB and Camp Bullis, Texas, for demonstrations of military operations in urban terrain, common battlefield airmen training and basic combat convoy instruction. They'll receiving a basic military training brief and tour, basic expeditionary airman skills and training presentation, and visit an Air Force Reserve Command unit and a Texas Air National Guard unit.

Before departing Friday, the foreign leaders attend a basic military training graduation.