JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Inter-American Air Forces Academy instructors traveled to Colombia in May to deliver the academy’s mobile version of its Professional Military Education courses.
Approximately forty members of the Colombian Air Force, Army, and Navy, as well as five Airmen with the Language Enabled Airman Program attended the six-week Inter-American Squadron Officer Course and Inter-American Non-Commissioned Officer course. These programs immerse students in leadership, team building and management themes through in-classroom and field events.
Master Sgt. Angel Rivera, one of the IAAFA instructors, noted that “the students enjoyed the course elements and the opportunity to work together as officer and enlisted leaders.”
“Adding U.S. Air Force students is not only a unique experience for our military members, but it also increases interoperability,” said Master Sgt. Victor Alvarez, 837th Training Squadron senior enlisted leader. “There is also a logistical advantage to our partner nation by allowing us to bring the course to them and allow for more students to learn the curriculum.”
The courses culminated with a graduation ceremony where Brig. Gen. Edgar Falla, Chief of Aeronautical and Space Education of the Colombian Air Force, served as the guest speaker.
While IAAFA is primarily an in-residence institution, mobile training teams give Partner Nations more training opportunities and allows the Academy to further support the National Defense Strategy and U.S. Air Force security cooperation objectives.