Reception for International students

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity's (NETSAFA) International Training Center (NITC) held a welcome reception Jan. 29 for international students onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. The reception hosted 38 international military students from 28 countries whom are currently attending professional military education or specialty training courses through NITC. "The reception served as a fantastic opportunity for the NETSAFA staff to meet and get to know some of the students that they directly or indirectly support,” said Cmdr. William Gibson, NITC officer in charge. The reception benefited staff and the students in getting "comfortable with their fellow counterparts and U.S. instructors," he said. “This is my second time in the United States,” said Chadian Air Force Lt. Ahmat Moustapha Ali, who is a student in NITC’s Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPT&E) course. MPT&E is a five-week course designed to provide attendees with an overview of methodology used by the U.S. military to recruit, train, detail, retain and eventually retire officers and enlisted personnel. MPT&E attendees often visit other commands outside the Pensacola area. The reception included 15 representatives from the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council, a non-partisan organization whose mission is to create and encourage collaboration between community stakeholders. International students in attendance represented: Botswana, Chad, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Georgia, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. NETSAFA is the Navy's agent for international education and training that coordinates training support to international governments and international organizations via NETC. (Source: Naval Education and Training Command 01/30/20)