“It has been an absolute honour being appointed as the Senior Enlisted Leader of Partnerships Directorate, not only that I have the opportunity serving alongside our Officers and NCOs within the Alliance but just as importantly, I have the privilege to work with our Partner Nations and their NCO Corps,” said CWO Gallant.
Being an SEL, compared to a Command Senior Enlisted Leader, CWO Gallant is the principal advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff Partnerships Directorate Turkish Navy Rear Admiral Bülent Turan, on all matters affecting non-commissioned members (NCM). Although not forming part of a command group, the position of SEL is integral to supporting the NCO communities throughout the many NATO partner nations, while providing leadership and staff with NCM and junior officer development, utilisation and engagement.
Canadian Chief Warrant Officer Rodney Gallant, the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Partnerships Directorate at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, speaks at a training event in Ukraine.
“I truly believe that if our partners continue to invest in their Professional Military Education systems, training of their NCO cadre, and empower them within their day-to-day duties, they will have a well-motivated force that will not only benefit their Nation’s security challenges but also our Alliance as well,” said CWO Gallant.
As SEL of the Partnerships Directorate, his other duties extend to establishing and building networks with NATO and partner nation’s educational institutes, as well as advising Partner National Military Representatives and Partner Liaison National Representatives on NATO military partnership and outreach activities. He also works as a core member of the NCOs Defence Education Enhancement Program (DEEP) in conjunction with NATO’s Partnership for Peace Consortium’s Education and Development Working Group.
“I am confident with the initiatives and programmes that have been designed and supported through DEEP we will be able to support the development of our Partners NCO Corps,” said CWO Gallant.
CWO Gallant joined the Canadian Army as a Gunner in 1989, initially posted to the 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA). During this time, he deployed with the 1 RCHA to Cyprus on Operation SNOWGOOSE 58. As his career progressed, he attended various leadership courses and deployed on multiple occasions throughout the world including once to Bosnia and three times to Afghanistan. In 2017, he was promoted to his present rank and posted as the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the 2 RCHA. During this tour he deployed on his sixth operational deployment to Iraq as the RSM of the Iraq Training and Coordination Unit from June 2018 to March 2019 before shifting to his current NATO assignment in July 2019.
NATO Partners are significant contributors to global security, enabling NATO’s core task of Collective Defence and Security. NATO’s partnerships serve to increase mutual cooperation and contribute to peace and security for the broader international community.
This is part twelve of a SHAPE Public Affairs series, introducing NATO military forces to their Senior Enlisted Leaders within Allied Command Operations. Following articles continue to highlight CSELs and SELs in subcommands within the ACO military structure.