Development and Training Flight adds to BMT success

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tanisha Brown
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Nine Air Force Reserve recruits took part in the first Development and Training Flight here during the Unit Training Assembly Aug. 4-5. The D&TF program is in place to better prepare new recruits for Air Force Basic Military Training.

"The flight was essentially designed to help delayed enlistment Airmen prepare for BMT and life in the Air Force, and to reduce the wash out rate in basic training," said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Cowan, 920th Rescue Wing D&TF facilitator.

Participation in the D&TF is mandatory for all newly enlisted Airmen and although the curriculum will change each UTA, it will primarily focus on physical fitness, core values, weapons familiarization and Air Force structure.

"Each month will obviously be a little different because trainees will be leaving for BMT and we'll be getting new recruits," said Cowan. "Both the numbers and curriculum will change from month to month, but the core will remain the same."

Col. Jeffrey L. Macrander, 920th RQW commander, visited the trainees and welcomed them to the wing Aug. 4. Macrander expressed his excitement about the program and conveyed his high expectations.

"We get these young Airmen on our books and they have to sometimes wait months before they leave for basic training; in that time, it's nice to get them some hands-on training of what to expect," said Macrander. "With the time devoted to physical conditioning training, weapons training and lessons in core values, we're hoping this experience gives them a leg up going into the real thing."

Cowan echoed the commander's sentiments.

"The ultimate goal is to have them both mentally and physically prepared for BMT," said Cowan. "We're not here to scare them; we're here to educate them. Of course we're going to push them, both mentally and physically, but what we're doing is easing them into the BMT mentality."

Trainee Jorge Guzman Jr., one of the nine participants and newest member of the 920th RQW, views this program as a crash course into military life.

"This has certainly been an eye-opening experience and the timing is perfect. I leave for basic training in less than a month, so this training is giving me insight into what the military is all about and what it has to offer," said Guzman.

Trainee Whitney Karlskin, who ships for BMT in December, admits that she didn't know anything about military life prior to this experience.

"If not for this program, I would have gone into basic training knowing absolutely nothing," Karlskin said. This feels like a prerequisite course to basic training and I know it will only make things easier for us in the long run."

While D&TF facilitator Cowan stresses that the transition from civilian to military life won't be easy, he believes this program will set them apart from Airmen who don't have the same opportunity.

"The most important factor is that they aren't going into basic training blind," said Cowan. "They are going to know the basics like how to salute, what a master sergeant is and what an officer's rank looks like."

"It's a great opportunity," he added, "an opportunity that I never had."

The motto for the D&TF program here essentially sums up its purpose: setting them up for success.

"And that's what we plan to do month in and month out," said Cowan.

All wings under Air Force Reserve Command will have training flights in place by September.

For more information about the920th RQW, log on to the wing's website or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.