MAGAZINE
SPRING 2021
THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING
By British Army Warrant Officer Class 1 Stuart DAVISON , CSM ARRC
This article is a testament to LANDCOM ’ s continued recognition of the noncommissioned officer ( NCO ) Corps , reinforcing the value placed on the cohort . As an alliance , we continue to influence a culture that recognises the talent that lies within these NCOs . These are my thoughts after almost two years as the senior NCO for Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps ( ARRC ).
Initial impressions In May , 2019 I had the privilege of assuming the appointment of Command Sergeant Major of ARRC , right in the middle of the planning and not long before the execution phases of Exercise ARRCADE FUSION 19 . This exercise and LOYAL LEDA 20 , both Combat Readiness Evaluations ( CREVAL ), served as short-term and long-term training opportunities on the road to ARRC assuming the role as the first NATO Warfighting Corps HQ to be held at readiness since the Cold War . As NCOs serving in NATO , we are already part of the largest corps network in the world . If knowledge is power , then shared knowledge is lethal . To quote U . S . Army General Curtis M . Scaparrotti , Supreme Allied Commander Europe ( SACEUR ) from May 2016 – May 2019 , “ Time and time again , the professional Non-Commissioned Officer ( NCO ) Corps has proven to be the unwavering force in the execution of NATO ’ s mission across the Alliance and beyond . Our present environment requires it , and our future environment demands it , therefore , the need to constantly re-evaluate and advance the skills , knowledge and abilities of the NCO Corps could not be more critical .” Having been advised by my Commander to conduct an estimate for ensuring success during my assignment , it became apparent that establishing relationships with my international , national and , ARRC group teammates was vital ground to everything that I aspired to achieve . I was very fortunate that , having only just gained full situational awareness of who was who and where they all were based , I was invited to attend the annual CSEL conference , hosted by the NRDC-Turkey CSEL , Mevlut Klose . “ It is not necessarily what you learn but more importantly who you
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