MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) -- Air Force ROTC cadets at 10 universities will soon see stripes in their classrooms.

In a new program, noncommissioned officers will begin serving as instructors at Air Force ROTC detachments, positions normally held by commissioned officers.

The three-year program will incorporate enlisted perspectives into the curriculum and highlight the relationship that exists between officers and enlisted Airmen, said Lt. Col. Sharon Pruitt of the Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools support directorate.

These NCOs will mentor the Air Force's future officers.

"Many of our junior officers enter active duty in critical leadership positions,” said Col. Steven Wayne, Air Force ROTC commander. “We must establish a thorough understanding of the crucial relationship that exists between the officer and enlisted corps at the very beginning of an officer's professional development -- not wait until (he or she is) on active duty. We owe it to our enlisted folks to ensure our officers are leadership ready as well as mission ready."

If the program is successful, it will be extended to all 144 Air Force ROTC detachments.

Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Twitty, the schools’ superintendent, worked on the team that helped develop the framework for the program.

"The enlisted instructors will give cadets the opportunity to learn about the relationship between officers and enlisted [Airmen] early in their careers," Chief Twitty said. "It will help give young officers the tools they need to lead effectively."

The selection criteria for the instructors included having a Community College of the Air Force degree, operational Air Force experience and the recommendation of their senior raters. Four technical sergeants and six master sergeants were selected for the new program from 200 applicants.

Before taking up their new duties as instructors, they attended the Air Force ROTC Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies course here June 14 to July 2. They spent 10 days learning how to teach and then put their knowledge to use planning and teaching lessons.

Being the first enlisted instructors is a challenge that all of them said they are eager to take on.

"This is an excellent opportunity to influence cadets as they begin their Air Force careers," said Master Sgt. Alberttina Keene, a career-development course writer from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She will be teaching at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

"The vision begins with us; it will continue because of us," Sergeant Kenne said.

The other instructors are:

-- Master Sgt. Gary Boseneiler, from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., who will teach at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

-- Master Sgt. Michael Breclaw, from the 313th Recruiting Squadron at Syracuse, N.Y., who will teach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

-- Master Sgt. David Csiesak, from Holloman AFB, N.M., who will teach at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz.

-- Master Sgt. Terry Fraser, from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., who will teach at Fayetteville State University, N.C.

-- Master Sgt. Hugo Laina, from Beale AFB, Calif., who will teach at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Daytona Beach, Fla.

-- Master Sgt. David Miller, from Grand Forks AFB, N.D., who will teach at North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D.

-- Tech. Sgt. Mike Sanders, from Randolph AFB, Texas, who will teach at the University of Portland in Portland, Ore.

-- Master Sgt. Shawn Swift, from the Air Mobility Warfare Center at Fort Dix, N.J., who will teach at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio

-- Tech. Sgt. Willy Warren, from Andrews AFB, Md., who will teach at Howard University in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)