Djibouti (HAN) July 30, 2014. Horn of Africa Defense and security news. An Air Force NCO recently had the opportunity to job shadow Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa’s top enlisted leader July 11, 2014, at Camp Lemonnier.
U. S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Rohlfing, 870th Air Expeditionary Squadron Radar Advisory Unit watch supervisor, spent a day with U.S. Marine Sgt Maj Bonnie Skinner, CJTF-HOA senior enlisted leader, where he attended meetings and conducted SEL functions on behalf of Skinner.
Skinner said the day was light for her, but still fast paced.
“He was with me from 0800 to 1800 and we were moving all day,” she said, snapping her fingers.
Rohlfing said the experience was very informative and he had an insightful day.
“To see just how much the Sgt Maj deals with in a normal day was mind boggling,” he said. “It was non-stop from start to finish.”
The staff sergeant accompanied Skinner to VTCs, briefings, and even general-officer level meetings. He also got a hint of all the people the Sgt Maj interacts with.
The day also included a block of time where she signs-in and-out all CJTF-HOA personnel arriving and departing camp, and a luncheon with service members. Between meetings and briefs, she made time to go out-and-about to see what was going on with service members on camp.
“Now he knows exactly why things are being done and better understands the command perspective — how and why things are being done,” Skinner said. “This is important because now he can share that perspective at his level.”
Rohlfing wasn’t just along for the ride, he was helping to drive.
“Before he left, he whipped out his notebook and said, ‘Here’s what I learned today,’” Skinner said. “I didn’t expect that. To see how excited he was to learn and spend the day learning more about the overall mission, that made me more excited too.”
And what was Rohlfing’s advice to other junior enlisted service members who are interested in shadowing their senior enlisted leader?
Just ask. This article was first published hoa africom By: July 29th, 2014 — Staff Sgt Dillon White
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Rohlfing, 870th Air Expeditionary Squadron Radar Advisory Unit watch supervisor signs out-processing paperwork while job-shadowing U.S. Marine Sgt Maj Bonnie Skinner, Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa senior enlisted leader July 11 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Rohlfing spent the entire day with Skinner, attending senior leader meetings, office calls and meeting with enlisted members of CJTF-HOA. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Dillon White)
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