Airmen answer National Call to Service

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Adam Rondeau
  • 37th Training Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Since its inception in October, more than 240 trainees who enlisted under the National Call to Service Program have attended basic military training here.

Under the terms set by the 2003 National Defense Authorization Act, the new airmen can serve a 15-month enlistment, followed by a possible two-year extension of active service or service in the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard or other approved federal agency.

Only 1 percent, or 370 authorized positions, of the 37,000 airmen slated to graduate basic training in fiscal 2004 will be participating in this program.

Two recent trainees in the program were enthusiastic about their upcoming Air Force careers and the opportunities they provide.

Airman Jason Perry, 23, who graduated Feb. 27 with Flight 245 of the 331st Training Squadron, learned from his recruiter of the education incentives he would receive by serving.

“I already have some college and [had] a good job,” Airman Perry said, “but there was simply no way that I could afford to pay bills and college at the same time.”

Those enlisting under the program can earn money to pay for college similar to the Montgomery GI Bill.

The physical readiness training he received in basic training also impressed Airman Perry, who will train as a vehicle operations apprentice at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

"I played football in high school and hadn't been very active after that, so (physical training) was a challenge," he said.

The Grundy, Va., native said the discipline involved in basic training was good for him, but said he wished Warrior Week could have been longer. During Warrior Week, trainees spend time in a field-training environment learning common warfighting readiness skills.

Another National Call to Service trainee, Airman Ariel Carmichael, 18, also wanted more of the readiness-oriented training Warrior Week provides.

"If we're going to deploy early in our career, we need as much information and experience as possible," she said.

She said when she first decided to join the military she was not sure if she would make it a career.

“By participating in this program, I now have the chance to test the waters and see what military life is truly like before I commit for a longer period,” said Airman Carmichael, who graduated Feb. 27 with Flight 246 of the 331st TRS.

Airman Carmichael, a native of Sumner, Wash., will train as a fuels apprentice at Sheppard AFB, Texas, following basic training.

Like all basic trainees, National Call to Service recruits receive the same training as their active-duty, Guard and Reserve counterparts. This includes physical readiness training, customs and courtesies, chemical and biological protection training, and wear of the uniform.

“We train these young men and women to the same level of readiness as we do all others,” said Chief Master Sgt. Billy Blackburn, superintendent of the 737th Training Group. “At some point, they might have to deploy in an (air and space expeditionary force) bucket, so we want them to have all the training required to survive in a potentially dangerous situation.”

Because of this training, when they marched down the "bomb run" at Lackland's parade field on graduation day, no one in the crowd could distinguish National Call to Service airmen from other graduates. (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)