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Show Commentary... n dbto n y o to ch gDing. aoirinniairB n. By Senior Master Sgt. Allen Niksich 34th FS, first sergeant A consistent question I have been asked over my 1 1 year career as a first sergeant has been, 'why isn't basic training getting the job done with new recruits?' Our parents and their parents before them talk about past generations, having it tougher than the genera- The rumors of time outs, where a recruit is allowed time away from a perceived stressful situation, do not exist. MTI's spend much more than the average work 'day with their recruits and I saw no let up when an individual couldn't (or wouldn't) meet the standards. I did, however, see teamwork build as weeks passed and recruits self-center- ed weeks of training new recruits endure before earning the privilege of being called an 'airman.' As I boarded an airplane at Salt Lake City Airport, my first staggering thought was that it was 2 1 years to the day that I boarded an airplane (my first airplane ride ever) at this very same airport, departing for my own basic training at Lackland: night we arrived, we went directly a training squadron that was first-da- y recruits in civil- remember when I was young, I barely broke a sweat in physical conditioning at basic training. Recruits are now returning to the dormitories driDDina wet and tired to shower and begin their day of training. Also added is a 5.8 mile road march in field gear that tests each airman beyond the confidence course. Our group of first sergeants and command chiefs joined two recruit flights who were being evalu- ated on the confidence course and made I with stronger attributes assisted weaker individuals to strengthen the individual and the team best aspect of the new T! tions who have followed them. Is our supervision justified in their comments that airmen in today's Air Force are and lack discipline and respect or is the mind set of 'when I was an airman, we never had it so good' alive and well. I was recently invited to return to Lackland Air Force Base to review basic trainthe six ing curriculum and see first-han- d nonrmco' curriculum was the recent addition of Warrior Week and the field training experience. These programs take recruits into the field for a week to expe- rience going to be easy. Regardless of whether you are at the top of the chain or a first line supervisor, it's up to you to maintain standards and discipline within yourselves and your work centers by recognizing those who exceed standards and, more importantly, taking appropriate administrative or disciplinary action when your subordinates fail to meet standards. is up to being to understand that you flashbacks and felt very secure those new recruits were every bit as nervous as I was as a new recruit" -d- are serving your country, that you have responsibil- ities and privileges well beyond that of your 18 to 22- civilian year-ol- d peers, and you must eployed where they live in tents, learn defensive fighting positions, proper wear and use of chemical warfare suits and equipment, self-ai-d and buddy care, and building a bare base location. As a first sergeant who has.deployed several realize that it through the course with just one minor casualty. Unfortunately, we were too busy to make the 5.8 mile hike (that was our story ' anyway). we have pockets of people do not have qualities we cherish in our young troops, but think about this Civilian employment is at a 29 year best and starving for young workers. The propensity for young people to enlist in the military is way down, and veterans, who are the best advocates self-discipli- ne is the key to any success you may enjoy in your life, in or out of the military. Military training instructors have just six weeks to entirely change the course of the lives of 1 8to Yes, young peo- 25-year-- ple and they work very hard to meet that impossible mission on a daily basis. that we, as leaders at all lev in els the Air Force, control our own in the success or failure of our young airmen. I urge you to think about your position in life, either as a leader or a young airman, and think about your responsibilities to succeed as an individual, but more importantly, think about your involvement in either helping or hurting your 'team.' If you can honestly say you give 100 percent through your 4 or 30 years of service and adhere to our core values (Integrity, Excellence in all you do, and service above self,) you will be successful in your military career and in your personal lives when you pass the torch onto the next generation of airmen. I challenge you to do your best-fo- r yourself and for the Air Force team! I for encouraging their children, nieces, nephews, and friends to enlist in the military, now make up only a single digit percentage of the United States population. We may not be afforded the opportunity to be as picky about enlistees as we were in the past, but after my revisit to basic training, I believe MTI's are doing everything in their power to send us young airmen who are ready to serve their country. We, as leadership need to realize our challenge, as do new airmen, and everyone these two links within the chain. The program begins testing radar cross-sectio- n F-- 22 LMAS's indoor RCS verification facility eventually will be used for verifying the signature of production aircraft prior to delivery to the Air Force. WRIGHT-PATTERSONA-IR FORCE BASE, Ohio (ACCNS) - Calendar year 1 999 program goals set by the Department of Defense for the F-Raptor con-tinto be met successfully, as evidenced by completion Of initial testing of the fighter's radar Each calendar year, the Defense ue 22 illst wm during the last, cross-sectio- n Department, along with the Air Force, establishes a set of specific goals that the F-program must meet to move to its next phase. Nine such DoD program criteria were established for 1999, including supercruise flight at Mach 22 week.in September. - Verification testing of the fighter's RCS signature is per- 1.5 without afterburnin ers, flight excess of 60 degrees angle fuel-guzzli- formed using a replica built to production of the tolerances, and incorporating numerous production components and materials including all major signature contributors. According to program officials, the model is the most detailed signature model ever built. "The F-radar cross section full scale pole model tests are essential to confirm both our modeling and component level characterization of the low observable design," said Chris Blake, System Pro director technical Office gram here. "These tests will confirm the operational signature of the design and give us confeafidence in the fighters tures." RCS testing is performed at the The F-Helendale Measurement Facility, a state-o- ffull-sca- le F-2- It "While the MTI's were a lot less intimidating after 21 years, I must admit I had times in the past few years, I have had to train junior and even senior NCOs in camp build-u- p and building tents and bunkers in ian clothes. Looking back, that first day a deployed location. was the toughest at basic training, with sevBeginning shortly after the new year, eral military training instructors yelling at we will begin receiving first duty station us from the time we got off the bus until airmen already certified in chemicalwar-fare- , we were 'introduced' to our beds, lockers, self-ai-d buddy care", and other areas and day room. Relief came only when the that we would normally have to take away MTI yelled, "Lights Out," and that relief from getting a new arrival into the flow at seemed very short lived as we were rudely, their new base. We'll now have moretime awaken at 0500 the following morning. to concentrate on getting them trained on While the MTI's were a lot less intimitheir primary duties. 1 2 milito me in after the dating years physical condition and I I must admit had flashbacks felt and tary, program looked like the same from 2 1 years ago, only the very secure those new recruits were every bit as nervous and intimidated as I was as circuit-typ-e exercise training was more riga new recruit. More importantly, well on orous. Recruits now alternate days in either their way to a new life of discipline and circuit training for 45 minutes straight or teamwork. running for 45 minutes straight. The We, as supervisors need to remember that nobody ever said being a supervisor was 2, of attack, and the initial radar . SV nx )x X 'V full-sca- le w The F-- - launch-and-lea- rev v x x 22 low-observa- 22 n ve F-1- 5C F-2- 2's F-2- 2's 22 cross-sectio- pole model testing. Raptor is being developed to counter lethal threats posed by advanced surface-to-a- ir missile systems and next generation fighters equipped with missiles. It is widely regarded as the most advanced fighter in the world, combining a revolutionary leap in technology and capability with reduced support requirements and maintenance costs. Itwill replace the as America's frontline, air superiority fighter. Lockheed Martin leads the contractor team working closely with the Air Force. 22 F-- ng AirFonephoto RCS measurement facility operated by the Raptor's prime contractor, Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Marietta, Ga. During these initial phases of testing, the so engineers model was mounted upside-dowcould get a good look at the bottom of the air-the-a- rt n, , craft Later, the model will be flipped over so that the top of the aircraft can be examined. RCS measurements Additionally, near-fiel- d (radar close to the model) will be taken for correlation with data taken in the indoor RCS measurement facility at LMAS. F-2- 2's Air vehicle team members include LMAS; Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems in Fort Worth, Texas; and Boeing in Seattle, Wash. Pratt & Whitney provides the Raptor with its F 1 1 9 engines. (Courtesy Aeronautical Systems Center, Office of Public Affairs) |