The Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (EJPME) Student and Alumni Spotlight
Solving the puzzle of joint operations with Joint Operations Directorate Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL), U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt., Jonie Escorpiso, from USSOUTHCOM’s Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South).
What joint experiences have you had?
Early in my career, I operated in joint environments as a Command and Control Battle Management Operator and Weapons Director during training, exercises, and deployments. Additionally, I was fortunate to be the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) for NATO’s Combined Air Operations Center Torrejon (CAOC-T) in Spain. Presently, I am the Joint Operations Directorate Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) at the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) in Florida.
How has EJPME impacted your experiences in a joint environment?
Quite honestly, it significantly impacted my experiences in a joint environment. Had I not completed EJPME, I would’ve been behind the curve as a joint leader, as it laid an academic foundation for me. I’ve spent most of my career focused on becoming an expert within my field, branch, AFI and doctrine, etc. EJPME showed me that there is still so much to learn, especially if I wanted to lead in a joint environment.
Tell us about an experience you’ve had where your EJPME knowledge came into play.
EJPME primed me with the academic knowledge to step into my new role at JIATF-S, so I wasn’t playing “catch up” with regard to terminology, organizational structures, and operational integration, among other areas. Having that foundation before stepping into the role allowed me time to focus on my unit’s mission, facilitating my ability to advise, support, and promptly make informed decisions.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned about joint operations?
The most important thing I’ve learned about joint operations is that every service plays an important role. They each have their capabilities, but it’s our “interdependence [that] is critical to overall joint effectiveness.” It requires us as joint leaders to see how we can effectively integrate those capabilities to achieve mission success. I think of joint operations as a puzzle. You don’t just throw all the pieces onto a table, thinking they will place perfectly. It would help if you took your time to see how each piece fits into the puzzle to create the bigger picture.
What do you feel is the most important subject for future joint leaders to know?
It’s hard to narrow it down, but a deep understanding of joint force development and service culture is one of the most important subjects for a leader to learn. We must understand how to grow our team and do that from a joint perspective.
What advice do you have for current students?
Take your time going through the courses, especially if you have a projected assignment to a joint unit. You may not remember everything verbatim but having at least heard it or read it once is hugely beneficial.
What’s next for you?
I will attend the National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, and Joint and Combined Warfighting School.
What would we be surprised to learn about you?
I am trying to learn how to play the banjo.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
As we continue to evolve as a joint force we need to recognize when we may not be the expert in a particular domain, capability, or approach and to rely on one another’s joint expertise to accomplish the mission.
Individuals may be nominated for this quarterly distinction by the EJPME Program Manager or their Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL). If you are a CSEL interested in nominating an EJPME student or alumni, please contact the Program Manager, Mr. John Lipps, at john.r.lipps.civ@mail.mil.
Account holders - visit the JFLD tab inside JKO for EJPME program information.
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