U.S. Army Europe Command Fetes Three Day Event
Grafenwoehr, Germany
Military Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development assumed a new, global and international look recently with the hosting of the first of its kind conference in Grafenwoehr.
Representatives from forty European, American and Asian countries met for three days to discuss and learn new ideas and Policies from each other.
The conference was held to bring together NCOs from a variety of countries, cultures and backgrounds. While at the conference, discussion and frank interaction allowed attendees to learn and grow professionally, all the while able to feel at home among other NCOs and Military peers.
The military NCO Conference is part of a larger effort by U.S. Europe Command, in their Theater Security Co-op Program. The program is designed to build and foster close partnerships among nations, and forces in the European Command Area.
Along with the conference itself, various other mini conferences, training exercises, and other events are tailored toward building understanding and cooperation. Among the stated goals for the NCO Conference were: To improve security and military capability among the forces of each host nation, to build cooperation and inter operability throughout the region, and to build this inter operability among the U.S. Military and their partner nations.
At the NCO conference many of the participants gave speeches, or presentations and led spirited and frank discussion on military matters shared by attendee nations.
At one end of the ruler is Slovakia, who recently gained independence in 1993 and joined up with the EU in 1994. Slovakia watches the U.S. closely and operates their forces and NCO ranks based on the U.S. Forces model. Contrast this with Sweden, who looks to rebuild their forces with a efficient NCO force to replace their system of conscripted and draft soldiers.
Overall the conference was a rousing success, and is a good example of the new era of cooperation between nations, sometimes between nations formerly at odds or bitter enemies.
