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At the Kisling Noncommissioned Officer Academy on Kapaun, we have been honored to have a Bulgarian air force student attend each of our last three courses, including the one currently in session.
Our most recent graduate was Bulgaria’s Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Ivo Bakardzhiev, who attended class under the instruction of Tech. Sgt. Karin Burke, and alongside his classmates, 15 U.S. Air Force technical sergeants, throughout the seven-week course.
Bakardzhiev’s attendance is the culmination of a two-year effort that began in November 2009. Chief Master Sgt. David Lawrence, commandant of the Kisling NCO Academy, first met Bakardzhiev in Sofia, Bulgaria, where they explored cooperation opportunities for enlisted professional military education. They also noted how similar both countries are and how each are committed to advancing the careers of its enlisted members by providing leadership opportunities and training.
During the November 2009 visit, Bakardzhiev said, “I think it’s a good idea to cooperate with our NATO neighbors to send our enlisted leaders to courses like the NCO Academy. Until now, we haven’t had very good programs for development of our enlisted forces. Our NCOs need opportunities to develop their leadership skills and improve their English, especially for the positions that require us to coordinate with (neighboring NATO countries).”
“This course is about becoming a better leader,” Burke said. “It is great to have Chief Bakardzhiev in the flight room. He is very passionate about his job and the people he leads. He brings a lot of experience, as well as a foreign aspect to our flight room, which greatly adds to our discussions. The flight has really come together and it is super to see them all having fun learning.”
“Without a doubt, having Chief Bakardzhiev attend our academy has enlightened our NCOs,” said Senior Master Sgt. Amber Mitchell, Kisling NCO Academy’s director of education. “We hope in turn to have given the chief some insight into the great investment we put into growing our own enlisted force. We value our partnership with Bulgaria and look forward to continuing that partnership by hosting more Bulgarian students in the future.” Lawrence said he was impressed with the Bulgarian air force’s enthusiasm to develop their enlisted force.
“Upon meeting Chief Bakardzhiev, I immediately noticed his passion and drive to lay the foundation for a robust enlisted professional development program,” he said. “Chief Bakardzhiev’s recent attendance at the Kisling NCO Academy reinforces the importance of developing a professional enlisted force, not only in the U.S. Air Force, but for our NATO partners as well. The Kisling NCO Academy is excited to strengthen our relations and will continue to build upon our Air Force’s No. 2 priority, partnership capacity, with our Bulgarian comrades through the Enlisted Professional Military Education program now and in the future.”
“Having Bulgarian students attend the Kisling NCOA represents both countries’ commitment to developing a professional NCO Corps,” said Chief Master Sgt. David Williamson, USAFE command chief. “It provides a unique developmental opportunity by expanding our Airmen’s perspective through a reciprocal exchange of ideas on leadership, airmanship and the profession of arms. As we learn together we become stronger and forge a lasting relationship that promotes interoperability. We look forward to our enduring developmental exchanges with our Bulgarian friends.”
