Category: United States Defense

Source: United States Air Force

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS)– —  

For recruits heading to basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, connecting with a military training instructor online prior to their departure is proving to help ease the transition from civilian to Airman.

“Ask an MTI” is a BMT-led program managed by Tech. Sgt. Sarah Bento, MTI and the 737th Training Group chief of protocol, that connects recruits, recruiters and instructors online to open lines of communication to better prepare the Air and Space Force’s next generation of trainees for the rigors of training.

“The program gives recruits and recruiters real-time information about BMT and the many changes [they can expect],” said Staff Sgt. Ruth Elliott, who has been an MTI for more than 2 years.

Elliott is one of several MTIs who volunteer their time to engage with recruits and recruiters online in a relaxed forum that encourages open discussion.

The program began as a grassroots effort in 2021, but Bento said that over the past several months, the program has increased significantly in terms of participants, and all 25 recruiting squadrons across the country are now participating in a formalized program.

Bento, who collaborates with the Air Force Recruiting Service, said recruiters also benefit. She has received feedback from recruiters that they now feel more confident providing current information about BMT to recruits.

“They benefit from hearing the answers to questions submitted by other recruits on topics they didn’t even think to ask,” she added.

The call starts with a 30-minute window for MTIs and recruiters to talk amongst themselves and to share relevant information that benefits both. Following, recruits join in for an hour-long discussion.

Tech. Sgt. Lacie Tadych is an enlisted accessions recruiter who recruits out of Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is the 369th Recruiting Group’s lead for the program and stated that she has seen a drop in the Delayed Entry Program discharge rate since the program began.

She described that those in the DEP that are seniors are most impacted. “They are in the DEP for a much longer period, and these calls have kept them motivated and excited,” she said. “They constantly tell me that they can’t wait for the next one.”

“Ask an MTI” is held 25 times per quarter, once for each enlisted recruiting squadron. On average, there are more than 55 recruits on each call.

According to Bento, recruits will ask questions that range from what to bring to training, to what food is served in the dining facility, to how they should prepare for BMT.

Since the program began, Tadych said the feedback received from recruits has been positive.

“The applicants feel more at ease and prepared,” she said. “There has also been quite a bit of feedback from the recruiters regarding how much they are learning as well. This is helping us better prepare our applicants and is all around improving the communication between the recruiters and MTIs.”

Source: United States Air Force

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) —  

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass visited Tinker Air Force Base, Oct. 11-13, for the first time, taking the opportunity to learn more about the mission and Airmen on base.

Bass is the highest enlisted Airman in the U.S. Air Force and is the 19th chief master sergeant appointed to the position. Bass represents the highest enlisted level of leadership, and as such, provides direction for the enlisted force and represents their interests, as appropriate, to the American public and to those in all levels of government.

Air Force First Sergeant Special Duty Manager Chief Master Sgt. John Alsvig also traveled to Tinker AFB alongside Bass. Alsvig’s responsibilities include setting overall policy and guidance for the management of the first sergeant special duty. In addition, he advises the CMSAF on all matters relating to the health, morale, welfare and discipline of the force.

During their visit, Bass and Alsvig met with key leaders from Tinker AFB and the community to address challenges Airmen and their families face. Bass was quick to point out the level of diversity among employees.

“What you all do here at Team Tinker really underpins the warfighter concept,” Bass said. “Our warfighters, regardless of service, cannot do what they do without the work done by every single servicemember here at Tinker, especially the 90 percent of civilians who are making it happen every day.”

In addition to visiting the 72nd Air Base Wing, the 552nd Air Control Wing, the Air Logistics Complex, the 507th Air Refueling Wing and the 137th Special Operations Wing, and holding an all call with enlisted members of the base, Bass visited the students at Edmond North High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Bass held a Q and A session for students to ask a wide variety of questions about the Air Force and her position specifically.

Edmond North High School senior David Boley was among the first students to ask a question, asking how it’s possible to maintain time management with a busy lifestyle.

“You have to sleep well, you have to eat well,” Bass said. “I try my best to wake up in the morning and go do my physical training early in the morning so that I can feel physically ready. I prep myself before I go into work mentally by listening to podcasts.”

“It was really cool that she came out here and that I got a chance to not only talk to her but actually shake her hand,” Boley said. “She’s a great example for what I am trying to become because I want to become a good leader; I want to be a PJ [Air Force pararescueman]. The example she sets of living a highly disciplined life is something that I am striving for too.”

During the Total Force all-call, Bass heard from Airmen, highlighted the top priorities of senior leaders in the Air Force, as well as what Airmen can expect in the coming years.

“Our headspace is, ‘Where does our Air Force need to be and how can we optimize for great power competition?’” Bass said. “Now we have these other war fighting domains that we have to focus on called space, cyber and information.”

Bass is proud of the Air Force heritage, history and everyone that got the Air Force to this point but is excited for what’s to come.

“As we continue to build the Air Force our nation needs, it’s going to be Airmen like those at Team Tinker who will continue to accelerate change into the future,” Bass said.

Before departing Tinker AFB, Bass and Alsvig, sat down with Tinker AFB Public Affairs to record an edition of the ‘Tinker Talks’ podcast.

Source: United States Air Force

IRWINDALE, Calif. (AFNS) —  

It wasn’t just any other day in beautiful Southern California. A sunny, picturesque day with temperatures in the low 80s. If you didn’t know any better, you would have thought that a fog had rolled in just as the festivities had begun. But no, that smoke accompanied by the distinct scent of burnt rubber is exactly why thousands of fans congregated together at the Irwindale Speedway; it was race day.

Motorsport fans traveled from all over to attend the Formula Drift event, Oct. 14. U.S. Air Force recruiters with the 369th Recruiting Squadron, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves spent the morning showing the F-16 Fighting Falcon static display that sat to the left of the hangar, an interactive recruiting asset that allows the public to try their hand at three Air Force specialties; aircraft maintenance, metal fabrication and a virtual reality simulation of in-flight refueling operations. The recruiting setup drew attention from a variety of patrons, but it isn’t every day when the Air Force’s highest enlisted leader pays a visit.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass’ first stop of the day was spent meeting recruiters who were supporting the event, where she had the opportunity to recognize a few Airmen who had been identified by 369th RCS leadership as superior performers.

“These three individuals have really embraced the challenges that we have faced in the Air Force Recruiting Service this year,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Kelloway, 369th RCS senior enlisted leader. “They have really strived to master their craft and improve their skills, and really have exceeded on all fronts this year despite those challenges; we couldn’t be more impressed with their actions and what they have accomplished.”

Tech. Sgt. Aaron Munoz-Case, one of the three recruiters recognized, was celebrated by his leadership for his initiative to lean into utilizing social media to reach a wider audience, something that Bass shared that she can relate to. Munoz-Case said he was excited to meet a senior leader who understands the value of social media as a communication platform.

“I really appreciate that she recognizes the need for Air Force recruiters and leaders to have a digital footprint,” Munoz-Case said. “I think it helps us reach potential applicants from all walks of life and allows us to connect with communities who may not know what being an Airman is all about.”

Munoz-Case said that her recognition motivated him but he was especially inspired after she joined their team to interact with Formula Drift patrons.

Bass spent time sharing her Air Force story and conversing with several of the motorsports fans who took the time to stop in and experience the recruiting booth. After talking with several potential future Airmen, Bass was in for a thrill as she continued to her next stop of the day’s events.

Bass met with Amanda Sorensen, AFRS-sponsored driver, who daringly invited her to join in a joyride in the Air Force-branded, high-performance stock car. Sorensen showcased her professional driving abilities by expertly balancing speed and control while drifting around the track, filling the stadium with the smoke and aroma of burnt rubber. Sorensen exited the track to drive Bass to meet her brother, Branden, who is also an AFRS-sponsored Formula Drift driver, at the recruiting booth where the trio met fans and signed autographs.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the partnership that the Air Force has with Team Sorensen, I think between that partnership and events like this, it allows us to connect with a diverse demographic of people from all ages and economic backgrounds, and that is important to our Air Force.” Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass

Among the fans in the crowd were an especially proud group of soon-to-be Airmen and their families. Bass took a moment to personally congratulate the young men and women who were minutes away from reciting the oath of enlistment on the track during the evening’s opening ceremony.

Following the opening ceremony, the crowd roared with a combination of praise for the patriotic introduction and excitement for the day’s main event. Bass finished the evening enjoying the Formula Drift event, but she spent the day experiencing something uniquely special. Bass witnessed two key moments in the recruiting process; an applicant’s introduction to the Air Force and the recruit’s reciting the oath that every enlisted service member, past, present and future decrees to gain admittance into the armed services.

“It was really inspiring to get to spend time with our recruiters who are out there looking for the next generation of Airmen,” Bass said. “I particularly enjoyed having the opportunity to meet some of their recruits and hear their ‘why’ before watching those 18 young men and women raise their right hands and make that commitment in front of 45,000 fans. It’s a reminder to everyone of what makes us the world’s greatest Air Force.”