KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Military training leader class 200210 graduated from the MTL schoolhouse March 5, at the Levitow Drill Pad.
Amongst the graduates of that class was Senior Master Sgt. Obaid Al-Bogami, Royal Saudi air force air traffic controller, who was the first international student the MTL schoolhouse has seen in approximately three years.
“This will help me a great deal,” said Al-Bogami. “Not only in the military, but in my general life. I’m glad to be able to be a part of this course and this new environment.”
MTL instructors were thrilled to be able to branch out beyond the Air Force’s enlisted core and strengthen our alliance.
“Any time we have the opportunity to invest in our joint partners, it makes us a better fighting force,” said Tech. Sgt. Landon Spaulding, 81st Training Support Squadron MTL instructor. “It allows us to share our best practices and ensure that we have unit cohesion.”
Throughout the course, students learn various skills to help them become effective leaders.
“We focus on how to be better leaders as a whole,” said Master Sgt. Victoria Monzon-Paramore, 81st TRSS MTL instructor. “We focus on how to influence behavior, motivate people and become better in life.”
Although it is rare to have an international student come through the MTL schoolhouse, changes were not needed to accommodate Al-Bogami.
“Senior [Al-Bogami] has done an excellent job of being versatile and flexible,” said Spaulding. “We held him to the same standard as all the other students. When one-on-one support was needed, we made sure we were proactive in providing that extra assistance.”
Al-Bogami was pleased with the opportunity to become an MTL and wanted to extend a message to the Air Force and Keesler Air Force Base.
“Thank you,” said Al-Bogami. “Special thanks to my instructors and classmates, they were very supportive and helpful.”