NCOS | NCO Advanced Leadership Course 2_2023 in Switzerland/ Kriens
Get out of your comfort zone and show what you're made of.
Definition of Leadership in the DEU AF:
“A process of controlling the behavior of people in order to achieve a goal.
It involves the targeted use of forces and resources as well as information in space and time”.
Guten Tag
My name is Master sergeant Henning Rahlfs. I have been a soldier in the German Army for 25 years and I’m currently deployed as an assistant to the ACO CSEL on SHAPE. As one of 28 participants from 23 nations, I was able to take part in this year's ALC in Switzerland/Lucerne. The reception in Switzerland and the transfer from Zurich Airport to Lucerne was well prepared and went smoothly, as did the subsequent welcome at the General Staff School.
The briefing of all participants the next morning suggested an exciting and highly interesting course. Two main goals were mentioned at the beginning: First, take the opportunity to create international connections and secondly, be always on time. Swiss Time! Divided into two classes, the obligatory round of introductions then began, followed by a self-assessment lessons regarding to DISC. In the evening, there was a guided Icebreaker-tour of a nearby fortress followed by a traditional Raclette.
The following days were varied with different topics such as group dynamic
processes, communication, media training, and cultural diversity, to name only a few. The course of these units was interesting and varied throughout consisting of role-plays, group work, and instructional discussions that were not held in the native language of most of the participants. The key to success throughout was mutual forbearance and patience, so that no one had the feeling of not being noticed or understood.
In addition, the weekend was perfectly organized. The visit to the unofficial
capital of Bern on Saturday prepared and organized on a voluntary basis by a
Swiss course participant. Sunday is a compulsory day on which we was taken to the higher-lying village of Engelberg to experience curling and of course had time to explore the snow-covered resort. Once again, we all appreciated the interesting days.
For me personally, this course was a refreshing and successful change of pace after a long time with no training/education regarding leadership, which refreshed what I had already learned, but also taught me many new things. Working in an international environment is not foreign to me as a soldier at SHAPE, but the ALC in Lucerne was a completely different challenge. On the one hand, you have to remember “old times” in a double room occupancy, but on the other hand, the all-day contact with other nationalities is very refreshing and teaches you many things you did not know before. I personally found the lesson on "The NCO as an advisor" the most informative. A role-play where we had the task of advising "real Swiss officers" on various issues. A new and challenging experience for me.
In conclusion, I can say that the two weeks at BUSA were an all-round successful time for me and an experience I would not want to miss. Finally, on behalf of all my fellow trainees, I would like to thank the Swiss Armed Forces including the course director and his instructors for their warm hospitality and their distinctive generosity.
MSG Henning Rahlfs
