NCOA instructors visit VRS under shadow program

Instructors from the NCO academy visited the 86th Vehicle Readiness Squadron on Ramstein Jan. 30 to further expand teaching expertise. The Kissling NCOA, located on Kapaun Air Station, continuously engages their instructors in activities to enhance their teaching corps.

“The NCOA shadowing program started as a professional development opportunity for the instructors,” said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Moore, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Headquarters commandant of Kissling NCOA. “We realized that we could take the opportunity to partner with host units locally to gain a better understanding of Airmen from any particular unit. Just as the students gain from the interaction with other Airmen in different Air Force Specialty Codes, the instructors now have a better understanding of all different AFSCs.”

The shadowing program aims to improve class dynamics and bolster instructor-to-student relations. “After each shadowing opportunity we meet in a core group atmosphere,” said Moore.

“The instructors share what they experienced and discuss how that can be applied to teaching and communicating the curriculum more efficiently for each student.
We have already started to receive students who recalled the instructors coming out to their workplaces, which has helped to foster rapport in the classrooms.”
Leadership from the VRS viewed the shadowing program as a way to improve the quality of NCOA instructor capabilities, said Moore.

“Having the instructors come out here is a worthwhile experience,” said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Albeck, 86th VRS vehicle fleet manager. “It’s important for instructors to get out in the field and have a boots-on-ground approach to see what daily challenges different Airmen go through.” Moore believes possessing the highest quality of leadership possible is necessary for the most advanced Air Force in the world.

“It is absolutely pertinent for the Air Force that we develop our NCOs to have critical thinking skills and solid leadership principles through professional military education,” said Moore.