Training staff prepares Airmen for learning

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeff Witherly, 97th Training Squadron superintendent, speaks with U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Robert Luttrell, loadmaster student, about his paperwork in the student administration office May 4, 2015. Instructors in the student administration flight assist students with their academic needs. The combined efforts of the military training leaders and the student administration flight ensure Airmen are prepared for training. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee/Released)

Training staff prepares Airmen for learning

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mark Smith, 97th Training Squadron military training leader flight chief, speaks with U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Daniel Winkler, boom operator student, in the MTL office May 8, 2015. Military training leaders provide professional development for students. The combined efforts of the military training leaders and the student administration flight ensure Airmen are prepared for training. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee/Released)

Training staff prepares students for learning

Published May 11, 2015
By Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Each year, around 2,200 pilot, loadmaster and boom operator students cycle through Altus Air Force Base to receive initial and advanced training.

The 97th Training Squadron aids students with their academics throughout their training. Majority of the students' in- and out-processing needs are completed at the student administration flight to get them into training immediately.

"We give the students the initial 'Welcome to Altus' info, including safety, local weather and flight medicine in-processing," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeff Witherly, who is the student training superintendent. "Global reach starts here. We train mobility war fighters. They all come here for training."

While the student administration flight focuses on developing Airmen through education, the military training leaders focus on professional development for the enlisted students.

"Our role is that we are the direct supervisor for all the Airmen," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mark Smith, 97th TRS military training leader flight chief. "We are responsible for any of their needs, their quality of life, and also their professional development, whereas their technical instructors are responsible for academic development and learning."

Although these two groups of mentors use different avenues of training, their combined efforts ensure Airmen are prepared for training.

"Military training leaders mentor and develop our Airmen; the student flight commanders and superintendents focus on academic success so these students can go on to be Mobility Air Force assets," said Witherly.

"When you have both sides working together, that's when you get successful Airmen who go on and serve our great Air Force," said Smith. "We are all one big team that have open lines of communication to help our Airmen succeed the best way we know how. The Air Force's greatest asset is its people. We are in the people business."