AETC launches Master MTL program

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Abbey Rieves
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Air Education and Training Command’s first Master Military Training Leader program officially launched at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Feb. 7.

“MTLs have been around since 1973, so we have a long history of leading, mentoring and training Airmen throughout the technical training pipeline,” said Senior Master Sgt. Malcolm Summers II, 17th Training Group military training superintendent.

Originally, course instructors supervised the students after classes in the dorms. The role later progressed into the designated position of Student Training Advisor and eventually the special-duty MTL.

The role continues to evolve as the Second Air Force historically established the right for each training group to have a localized Master MTL program.

“The Master MTL program recognizes superior performance, ethics and leadership of personnel serving as MTLs,” Summers said. “Those personnel who consistently produce superior results and meet all the eligibility requirements should be considered for this distinction.”

Only the top 10% of an Airmen’s career field can apply to be MTL. The Master MTL positions are then selected from the top 10% inside the career pool, which makes the recipients in the top 1% of the entire Air Force.

This new position provides a window of opportunities for current MTLs to reach higher heights, all while exemplifying Air Force core values to the Airmen in training.

“By creating a Master MTL you are separating the top 10% of the career field and recognizing them as that,” said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Washington, 312th Training Squadron assistant flight chief. “It shows the students that there are higher levels to greatness and there are higher levels to excellence in everything that they do.”

MTLs are identified by a dark blue aiguillette on their left shoulder. The Master MTL’s ropes intertwine the old dark blue cord with a new royal blue cord, signifying the career field expansion.

As the new rope reflects who the Master MTLs are, the new position also comes with higher expectations of mentorship, leadership and training.
Military Training superintendents at each AETC base have the freedom to customize the Master MTL program’s grading rubric.

The competing candidates have the chance to demonstrate exemplary subject-matter expertise of their career field in a variety of categories such as dress and appearance, marching a flight and delivering a professional development lesson for Airmen.

Other areas of the rubric include commanders’ recommendations, a minimum physical training score and specific frontline MTL experience.

As the master MLT position is restricted to only 10% of the assigned MTLs at any given time, applications will resume as vacancies become available.

The first two Master MTL designations in AETC were Tech. Sgt. Derwin Finley, 312th Training Squadron assistant flight chief and Washington.

For more information please review Air Education and Training Command Instruction 36-2651, Basic Military and Technical Training.