HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Oregon National Guard’s Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Foesch, teamed up with other senior enlisted personnel from across the U.S. Pacific Command area to discuss the importance of noncommissioned officer (NCO) development throughout the Pacific region.
Foesch was part of a panel to discuss global partnerships through enlisted development and professionalism as part of the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) annual Land Forces Pacific (LANPAC) Symposium, May 22, 2018, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Foesch highlighted the Oregon National Guard’s personnel exchanges during his remarks, specifically with the State Partnership Program (SPP). He stressed that these training opportunities provide Service Members from both countries familiarity with each other’s military, joint experiences, and “makes us all better prepared.”
“In today’s world, the reality is that we are never going to fight alone,” said Foesch. “We will fight together as a coalition and it is through these experiences and understanding that we create even better relationships.”
The Oregon National Guard is partnered with both Bangladesh, since 2008, and with Vietnam’s National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response, and Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM), since 2012. Foesch said SPP events, particularly those regarding partner countries’ NCO corps, “allow us to come together, as professionals, to discuss relevant, current issues. We have a lot to offer.”
The six-member LANPAC panel, chaired by Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Jones, Command Senior Enlisted Leader for U.S. Army Pacific, also included senior enlisted leaders from both the New Zealand Land Forces, the Japanese Self-Defense Force and Australian Army. These leaders reiterated the importance of readiness and continued education.
Once opening remarks concluded, the panel opened the floor up to questions from the audience. Foesch emphasized that to make NCO exchanges successful it is important to select the right people for the job; specifically those NCOs who lead by example and take care of the junior enlisted Soldiers under their charge.
Foesch, was the only National Guard member to participate as a panel member. Other U.S. personnel on the panel included Jones and Sgt. Maj. Anthony A. Spadaro, Command Senior Enlisted Leader for U.S. Pacific Command. The panel was moderated by Sgt. Maj. of the Army (Ret.) Kenneth O. Preston, who currently serves as the Vice President, Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier Programs, Association of the United States Army.