Noncommissioned officers from every U.S. military branch on camp participated in the first Joint Forces Professional Development Seminar in the White House Lounge here April 6.



The purpose of the seminar was to provide an overview of service-specific information for U.S. military members operating in a joint services environment, said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Renwick Davis, Strategic Communication senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, and CJTF-HOA Top 3 Association president. The seminar was geared toward the ranks of E-5 and E-6 for all branches.



"The seminar offers up the opportunity to network with peers," said Sergeant Davis. "Oftentimes folks get in environments like this and kind of get in their own little bubble, so to speak, but this will allow them to see that things that happen in your service happen in other services as well."



The seminar was chartered by the CJTF-HOA Top 3 Association and senior enlisted advisor Chief Master Sgt. James Davis. The intent is to hold the event quarterly and eventually include the ranks of E-4 and below, said Sergeant Davis.



The event covered subjects such as rank structure, customs and courtesies of the four service branches, as well as an understanding of the differences and similarities we all share in the joint operations environment.



"This is my first joint command, and the big difference for me is the rank structure," said U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Judy Thornton, CJTF-HOA Radio Wire member and seminar co-chair. "These differences effect how I evaluate individuals from different services, just trying to understand what will help them advance based on what they are used to in their particular branch."



"Since the Marine Corps is part of the Navy, a lot of the customs, courtesies, and traditions are the same," said U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Judson Garrick, a CH-53 helicopter avionics electrician and seminar participant. "I would think it would be more of a culture shock for the Army and Air Force than the Navy and Marines since it is a Navy camp."



Another goal of the seminar was to show that by understanding the differences and similarities between services, military members can better adjust their efforts to work together as a joint force with increased efficiency, said Sergeant Davis.



"Once dialogue started, which is what we (were) really hoping for, then the conversations are endless and people start sharing," said Sergeant Davis. "For me it's great."