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WPAFB Centers Stress Importance of Cultural Awareness
Posted 9/19/2011 Updated 9/19/2011
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by Chandra Lloyd
88 Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office
9/19/2011 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- After a 3-year hiatus, a cultural exchange event was re-established this summer to help Wright-Patterson AFB interns grow and explore the foreign military sales career field.
"Some of you work, or will work, FMS cases," said Brig. Gen. Arnie Bunch, Air Force Security Assistance Center, commander. "But even if you don't work FMS cases, learning the cultural differences and diversities we share with our international partners and the global community is critical to how we do business now and in the future."
The event focuses on increasing FMS visibility to the Aeronautical Systems Center and AFSAC junior workforce through cultural engagements with WPAFB Foreign Liaison Officers.
"The interns are at a point in their career where they can choose which areas they want to pursue, in particular - contracting, engineering, program management, or FMS," said Robin Mosley, deputy chief, AFSAC International Division.
There is no specific degree required for FMS, but experience will get you far. For example, Nicole Stompor, an FMS program management student trainee under the Student Career Experience Program, came into the SCEP with a journalism major and marketing background, and began her career as a multi-media developer at an e-learning firm.
"I quickly became a multi-media team lead, planning and managing day-to-day tasks on projects," said Ms. Stompor. "I've always been interested in the Air Force, and with team lead experience, writing, managing, and planning experience there was no better field to get into."
Ms. Stompor is currently working on a Master's Degree in Project Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Once she graduates, she will enter ASC's Program Manager Intern Program to eventually become a full-fledged program manager.
"I feel cultural awareness is important because we depend on our international partners as we form coalitions to conduct operations around the world in times of crisis. The Air Force and the Department of Defense have made building partnerships a priority," said General Bunch. "We need to increase the cultural awareness of the junior workforce, and really the entire workforce, so we create an environment more conducive to building the trust relationship that is critical to forging and sustaining partnerships."
The cultural exchange forum is one of many events co-hosted by the two Centers to increase cultural awareness of the workforce.
"We would like to make the cultural exchange forum an annual event for our interns," said Ms. Mosley. "We also have the International Ball and the Annual International Spouses Fair."
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