Family continues training tradition

  • Published
  • By Susan Griggs
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) --  It is like father, like son in the Gutierrez family when it comes to conducting military training.

Staff Sgt. Victor Gutierrez is serving as an instructor in the same course his father, Ernesto, taught during his military years.

Now, both trainers are serving in the 81st Training Group here. Sergeant Gutierrez is a computer, networking and cryptographic systems instructor in the 338th Training Squadron, while Mr. Gutierrez teaches electronic principles in the 332nd TRS.

“Now when (students have) finished my class, I send some of them over to my son for further training,” said Mr. Gutierrez, who served 23 years on active duty and six years as a civil servant.

He said he followed his son here from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, 14 months ago “for the fishing and to be closer to our granddaughters.”

“I’ve learned everything about being an instructor from my dad,” said Sergeant Gutierrez. “He taught me so much about getting students interested, motivating them and maintaining control in the classroom.”

“I always told my son that our career field was the most important one,” said Mr. Gutierrez, a retired master sergeant. “It’s very important to provide positive motivation in a classroom situation.” (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)