Captain shares Student Flight knowledge to help unit build program

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis E. Keith
  • 130th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AFNS) --  Capt. Bryan Williams, the Student Flight coordinator for the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., helped establish the new Student Flight training program for the West Virginia ANG's 130th Airlift Wing here.

A Student Flight prepares new recruits for basic military training from the time of enlistment until the time they leave for BMT at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. They drill as trainees, their title throughout BMT, during regular Unit Training Assemblies and are paid at whatever grade in which they enlisted: E-1 to E-3.

The program was spearheaded by Staff Sgt. Paul D. Roach, the non-commissioned officer-in-charge of Student Flight, with the 130th Force Support Squadron, and 1st Lt. Carl B. Benson, the interim officer-in-charge.

Sergeant Roach said Lieutenant Benson researched the Internet and found that the 129th RQW has a high rate of Basic Military Training graduates, as well as BMT honor graduates.

"Instead of reinventing the wheel, Sergeant Roach and I took the 129th RQW's program and tailored it to fit the 130th AW," Lieutenant Benson said.

The 129th RQW Student Flight program was modeled from the 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, Calif., and tailored to its own needs. Capt. Williams' training schedule is a 4-month cycle with an annual rotation of unit briefings and activities designed to prepare recruits for BMT.

"It's a program that will help any Guard unit who needs it; that's how the program is designed," Captain Williams said. "We prepare them so they can go to BMT and shine."

Captain Williams teaches the recruits to take the basic tasks of BMT and master them in a controlled environment at the unit. Both Lieutenant Benson and Captain Williams said that once they teach the recruits a skill, the recruits are required to use it.

The Student Flight program covers topics such as reporting procedures, drill and ceremony, physical training, the U.S. Air Force song and the U.S. Air Force mission, vision, and core values.

The program includes monthly unit briefings to foster a sense of esprit de corps and educate the recruits about the different shops on base, where they are located, what they do, and how they fit into the scope of the wing, state and federal missions.

"If we can instill core values at this early stage, it will contribute internally to reinforcing esprit de corps when they get to their units, and then eventually they'll step into our shoes and be leaders," Sergeant Roach said.

The recruits also get guidance for their personal lives with briefings from finance, legal, mental health, equal opportunity and family readiness.

"Not only are we getting the recruits ready for BMT and technical training school, we're also building better citizens for America by teaching them teamwork, financial basics, goal setting skills and physical conditioning," Lieutenant Benson said.

Captain Williams also created a program matrix that tracks the recruits' progress in physical fitness, BMT school dates and unit of assignment information. Lieutenant Benson is using a similar matrix.

The success of the 129th RQW's Student Flight program is directly related to the support of the wing: the commander, vice-commander, unit commanders, first sergeants, chiefs and many volunteers, Captain Williams said.

Members of the 129th Student Flight conduct a graduation ceremony at every UTA, in which each graduating Student Flight member receives a certificate of completion.

"It gives them a sense of accomplishment, a sense of pride, and lets them know we do care about them," Captain Williams said. "We want to assure the Student Flight members that we have prepared them adequately for their military career, and that the members of the wing are here to support them."