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Molding tomorrow’s air force, military training instructors search YARS for future leaders

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jim Brock
  • 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio --  

All enlisted Air Force service members attend Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Military Training Instructors (MTIs) serve as the Airman Basic’s first teacher, the first person you meet at Lackland. The MTI’s job is to chisel and shape recruits into efficient, effective members of the U.S. Air Force. Members of the 433rd Training Squadron provided information for members of the 910th Airlift Wing interested about what it takes to be an MTI during the February Unit Training Assembly weekend.

Tech. Sgt. Tod Scheff is an MTI for the 443rd Training Squadron at Lackland.

“We are here to recruit Military Training Instructors for Reserve Command,” said Scheff. “Not many people know that we actually have Reserve MTIs, so we’re here to spread the word and tell them what it’s all about.”

Those interested in the program must be at least a staff sergeant with one year time-in-grade to be accepted, all positions are technical sergeant and above. The 433rd will accept Senior Non-Commissioned Officers to the rank of senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant for those in Air Reserve Technician positions.

Tech. Sgt. Anthony Flores, 910th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communications navigation system craftsman, attended the briefing given by members of the 443rd.

“I thought that in order to be a reserve MTI, you had to live in the local area,” said Flores. “I didn’t know that they had reservists from all around the country. I wish that I had this information years ago because I would have tried to enter the program then,” said Flores.

Master Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, also an MTI with the 433rd, explained the benefits of becoming a successful MTI for the 433rd Training Squadron.

“The MTI teaches effective time management, problem solving and dealing with personality issues,” said Rodriquez. “It’s almost a stepping stone for Senior NCO or First Sergeant positions.”

Rodriguez said that the goal of the visit to the 910th was to increase traditional reservist manning in the MTI positions for the Basic Military Training mission at Lackland.  

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