Canadian Forces College Hosts International Junior Officer Seminar

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt Joe Simms
  • 22nd Air Force Public Affairs
TORONTO, ONTARIO, Canada --  Airmen, soldiers and sailors from the U.S. and six NATO countries participated in the 2009 International Junior Officer Development Seminar held at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Aug. 17-21.

The week long seminar focusing on international relations, hosted 40 officers from the United States Air Force Reserve and 22 officers from Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.

"The IJOLDS program offers junior officers a chance to work in a joint environment, meet other officers, exchange ideas, and learn about the military of other countries," said Maj. Beena Maharaj, chief of officer and civilian force development at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

"It is also a rare opportunity for lieutenants and captains to sit one-on-one with a seasoned wing commander or a general officer," she said. "The interaction with the senior members is just outstanding."

The AFRC sponsored IJOLDS program began in 1994 at the NATO school in Oberammergau, Germany with 18 participants from five countries. Since then, the annual event has expanded to include more than 60 students with briefings on international leadership, team building, cultural diversity, international relations and cross-cultural mobilization issues.

"Having a taste of what it is like to work in a coalition environment is exactly what this course is all about," said Brig. Gen. Dean Despinoy, wing commander, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind.

Creating the curriculum was a joint effort between the Professional Development Center at HQ AFRC and Lt. Col. Angelo Caravaggio, the director of research and symposium at the Canadian Forces College. Colonel Caravaggio is a frequent lecturer on executive leadership and military history and brought a wealth of information he accumulated while completing his two master's degrees and a doctorate in military history.

"My plan was to give the students a buffet of information on command leadership, responsibilities and a host of other issues. It was up to them to come up with a full plate at the end," said Colonel Caravaggio. "I hope at the end of the course they were exposed to a different set of ideas, or maybe possible solutions to problems they would be facing on a daily basis."

"What I took away from this course was new ideas on leadership at my level as well as what types of leadership styles will be necessary in the future," said Capt. Taylor Adams, a maintenance officer with the 315th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C. 

Swiss Army Maj. Ulrich Price is assigned to the Command and Support Battalion 24 and works for the Swiss air forces' Electronic Warfare School as the commanding officer for the non-commissioned officer school.

"Some of what I've learned here on leadership and decision making will be a valuable part of my course when training non-commissioned officers," he said.

In addition to attending lectures, students were tasked with working together in groups on a scenario requiring them to come to a consensus on an operational plan to attack a fictitious village. This scenario was taken from the curriculum of the Canadian Forces College designed for majors and lieutenant colonels in the Canadian armed forces.

For many students this was the first time they collaborated with foreign military members in a coalition type environment.

"We are all coming together and trying to solve common problems but because we are cultured, because of our service, and the methods that are used by individual countries, it becomes difficult," said General Despinoy. "When you are trying to do an operation with a collation there are realities that will never go away."

Instruction wasn't confined to the classroom when students were introduced to Canadian military history. Students and instructors made the two-hour trip to visit Fort Erie and the Chippawa battlefield site from the War of 1812. Lt. Col. Ian McCullough of the Canadian Forces College took the students on a tour of these battle fields where the British, U.S. and Canadian forces fought near Niagara, N.Y., in July 1814.

Each year the HQ AFRC Professional Development Center conducts the IJOLDS in a different NATO country. Past seminars have been held in Switzerland, England and the Netherlands, and next year the U.S. will host their international counterparts in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The IJOLDS program is available to company grade officers from each wing in the Air Force Reserve. Those officers interested in attending next year may contact Mickey Galliard at DSN 497-0933 or commercial (478) 327-0933 for more information on nomination procedures.