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The cast of the “Spirits of the Past” production, pay their respects to previous service members April 3, 2014 at Kapaun Air Station, Germany. Instructors from Kisling NCO Academy perform the presentation for graduating students on graduation morning. The NCO Academy staff were recently named the 2014 U.S. Air Force Professional Military Education Team of the Year.
The halls of the schoolhouse were crowded with technical sergeants rushing into classrooms, gathering books and learning from the best NCO academy in the Air Force.
The U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s Kisling NCO Academy was named the 2014 U.S. Air Force Professional Military Education Team of the Year. This is the fifth time in the past six years they have been recognized for their accomplishments in the development of NATO NCOs.
“I think the students are the heart of our organization,” said Chief Master Sgt. Amber Mitchell, Kisling NCOA commandant. “They keep us going every day, and that makes the instructors and everybody around us proud to serve.”
Mitchell said the award recognizes what and how the team and school are influencing the sphere of leadership all around us because of the technical sergeants that ultimately are going back into their units and doing the things that make the mission go.
Throughout the year, more than 1,100 students attended 28 academic days of training, covering more than 220 hours of curriculum and focusing on areas including successful learning, leadership and critical thinking.
“I think it’s about innovative practices,” Mitchell said. “I think that is what sets Kisling apart. We do a lot of things that other schools simply aren’t doing. We try to maximize the time of the students and the staff and come up with something like the innovation projects.”
The innovation projects challenged Airmen to develop new ideas for their unit while they attended the schoolhouse and the projects were one of many accomplishments Airmen were recognized for.
Another highlight for the academy in 2014 was the development of militaries in other countries. Airmen from the academy not only traveled to other countries to teach, they also hosted international students from NATO countries such as Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and many more NATO countries.
“I love connecting with the students,” said Tech. Sgt. Tamera Hall, Kisling NCOA instructor. “The friendships and networking I have done here is going to last a lifetime, not only with my fellow instructors and cadre members, but with the students.”
There is no stopping for the NCOA, they said. They still have places to improve for the Airmen who will crowd their hallways awaiting training and knowledge.
