LAGO PATRIA, Italy - The Allied Joint Force Command Naples Joint Mobile Training Team (JFC JMTT) conducted training for noncommissioned officers in Tunis, Tunisia, May 9-13, 2016.
German Army Master Sgt. Kai Osthoff, one of the Military Partnership Branch JMTT Coordinators from JFC Naples, led the team consisting of Turkish Army Sgt. 1st Class Gokhan Karaduman, German Air Force Master Sgt. Dennis Tappe and French Army Master Sgt. Johnny Delree.The team’s mission was to deliver NATO NCO leadership training to Tunisian Armed Forces personnel.
The training is based on the two week NATO certified "Intermediate Leadership in a Multi-National Environment” course that is taught at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany and the Swiss Leadership Academy in Lucerne. Although the training is structured towards developing partner nation NCOs at the Staff Sergeant and Sergeant First Class levels, the 25 participants on this serial were mostly Command Sergeant Majors and First Sergeants from the various elements of the Tunisian military.
As the leadership and experience level of the participants was considerable, the JMTT was able to do some syndicate works and for most of the topics it was possible to work out the contents together with the Tunisian NCOs.
The Tunisian NCOs were especially interested in the topics revolving around leadership and NATO history, but they were also motivated in other topics, such as stress management, ethics, cultural diversity and effective communications. Discussions during the week highlighted the importance of understanding there are always other options, no absolute way of doing things, and that accepting cultural diversity is the key to effective interoperability.
The Tunisian Armed Forces are investing in the development of their NCO corps and have adopted many of the leadership doctrines used by various NATO nations, according to Osthoff.
"It was a pleasure to get to know and share experiences with this group of professional Soldiers and the JFC Naples JMTT is looking forward to conducting training with the Tunisian NCOs in the future,” Osthoff.
The JMTT team also thanked Tunisian military members Capt. Walid Sboui, Staff Sgt. Wannassi Bassem, and Lt. Col. Mejid Mguidich for their efforts.
The JFC JMTT is looking for motivated multi-national NCOs to join the team. For more information on the JFC JMTT, please contact MWO Dean Griffin at 081 721 5652 or
D.Griffin@jfcnp.nato.int.