Groundwork laid for new Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy Published Aug. 26, 2022 By Master Sgt. Gena Armstrong Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Senior enlisted air force leaders from Australia, Canada, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and others collaborated recently with U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command Chief Master Sgt. David R. Wolfe, to lay the foundation for the Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy. Philippine Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Roy Alvin D. Sabado discusses which ranks the future Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy should focus on during a regional breakout session of the Senior Enlisted Leader International Summit 2022 in Arlington, Virginia on August 2, 2022. One key take away from the discussion was, in relation to taking courses at IPAFA, rank is less important than the roles and responsibilities that an Airman has and how they carry those duties out. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Gena Armstrong) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “The idea for this academy was born from the Pacific Air Chief’s senior enlisted leader session in September of 2021,” explained Wolfe. “It’s a collaborative idea with unanimous support from not only our Pacific partners, but other like-minded nations.” The IPAFA will be a U.S. Air Force-led international institution that delivers professional military education to Ally and partner air forces throughout the Indo-Pacific. The academy’s focus is to develop effective enlisted command leadership teams with a strong partnership network to draw from. Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force Jake Alpert worked with Wolfe to get IPAFA’s development in motion. Alpert believes relations between the United Kingdom and nations throughout the Indo-Pacific will continue to grow through delivering an enlisted non-commissioned officer school in the Pacific, as well as continued partnerships during regional exercises. “We all have a common interest in global security and the U.K. specifically honors our historic partnerships,” explained Alpert. “We need to make sure we’re resilient and ready to support against any aggression.” The Indo-Pacific breakout session was part of Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass’s Senior Enlisted Leader International Summit. During the IPAFA discussion, PACAF Allies, partners, and other stakeholders worked to define the academy’s purpose, goals, and how they would define the initial operating capability of the school. “What does a senior enlisted leader in the Pacific look like?” Wolfe asked the group. “What are the attributes and capabilities our senior enlisted corps should have as a common ground across the Pacific?” Some of the team’s responses included molding enlisted Airmen who are innovators, critical thinkers, healthy skeptics and empowered leaders who implement effective systems to modernize their missions. Groundwork laid for new Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Air Force John Hall participates alongside 20 other Indo-Pacific allies, partners, and stakeholders in planning the Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy during a regional breakout session of the Senior Enlisted Leader International Summit 2022 in Arlington, Virginia on August 2, 2022. The attendees laid the groundwork for IPAFA’s operational structure and long-term collaboration. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Groundwork laid for new Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy Command Chief, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Chief Master Sgt. David R. Wolfe annotates goals, requirements, and concerns of Indo-Pacific allies and partners for a future Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy during a regional breakout session of the Senior Enlisted Leader International Summit 2022 in Arlington, Virginia on August 2, 2022. The 21 IPAFA planners wrote notes throughout the discussions for fluid idea generation and consolidation at the meeting’s conclusion. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Groundwork laid for new Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy Warrant Officer of the Royal Australian Air Force Fiona Grasby speaks about training and equipment requirements for the future Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy during the Senior Enlisted Leader International Summit 2022 in Arlington, Virginia on August 2, 2022. Command Chief, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Chief Master Sgt. David R. Wolfe held the IPAFA planning meeting to collaborate with regional Allies and partners on how each nation could contribute to the upcoming professional military education school. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Gena Armstrong) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The PACAF enlisted engagements manager, Senior Master Sgt. Sedrick Evans, is leading the academy’s creation. “This is an opportunity for our Pacific enlisted leaders to build a global network of esteemed senior leaders better positioned to advise their commanders,” said Evans. “The timing is right and we need to take action with our international partners.” Existing courses such as Airman Leadership School and Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy have international student enrollment on a space-available basis. The IPAFA will be additive in nature to those courses, rather than a replacement. The IPAFA will be similar to the existing Inter-European Air Forces Academy and Inter-American Air Forces Academy, which enroll international students from Allied and partner nations within their respective regions. Those schools feature multiple courses that target different ranks and technical specialties. Senior Master Sgt. Sedrick Evans, Pacific Air Forces International Enlisted Engagements Manager, briefs Allies and partners on the background of the future Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy during a regional breakout session of the Senior Enlisted Leader International Summit 2022 in Arlington, Virginia on August 2, 2022. The IPAFA will create a standardized non-commissioned officer identity and develop a culture of stability for enlisted leaders’ authority and responsibilities across the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Gena Armstrong) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res While creating IPAFA, Wolfe and his collaborative team are focusing on what the Indo-Pacific air forces need for their enlisted corps, drawing from 10 months of analysis and assessments on what works best and needs improvement at the existing academies. “If we have a heatmap for what’s available at IPAFA, then nations can send their enlisted to whatever course they need regardless of rank,” said Wolfe. “It’s less about rank and more about roles, responsibilities, and competence the enlisted force brings to each military organization.” The diverse Indo-Pacific nations’ air forces currently have varying responsibilities for their enlisted personnel. The IPAFA will be a comprehensive way to standardize the role of non-commissioned officers and senior enlisted in the region, supporting integrated deterrence and a free and open Indo-Pacific.