MTIs shadow recruiter, gain new insight Published Jan. 11, 2010 By By Mike Joseph 37th Training Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Two military training instructors have a greater understanding of the Air Force recruiting service after shadowing recruiters for a week. Staff Sgts. Bobby Bass and Joseph Flores, MTIs from the 323rd Training Squadron, shadowed recruiters Nov. 16-20; Sergeant Bass worked out of a Houston office and Sergeant Flores was at a San Antonio location. Both said they agreed the experience was enlightening. "We do take the best of the best when it comes to qualifying (people) for the Air Force; that's the bottom line," Sergeant Flores said. "I had a perception that (the recruiters) were letting anybody in. But their system and checklists are regimented and thorough, and they were turning (people) away." Sergeant Bass emphasized how much work goes into finding one qualified applicant. "I'd say it was about 15 to 20 man hours to get one trainee into basic training," he said. "I was shocked at how much effort the recruiters had to put in to prepare them. "(Recruiters) have to be counselors and mentors, and keep (recruits) motivated," he added. "I was surprised. A lot goes into keeping the recruits geared toward the Air Force." The job shadowing is part of an information exchange program between the 323rd TRS and the 341st Recruiting Squadron. Two recruiters from the 341st RCS spent the last week of October shadowing MTIs, and they, too, came away looking at basic military training in a different light. The program has given each squadron a different perspective on one another that in the end will benefit recruits, trainees and the Air Force. "It goes beyond examining each part of the accession process," said Lt. Col. Matthew Whiat, 323rd TRS commander. "It looks at how we are all linked together - recruiting, basic training and technical training. "We continue to build warrior Airmen of character from civilians and knowing how each of our decisions impacts the other is vital in fine-tuning an already well-honed process. What better way to do this than to get the people together who are actually doing the work." Lt. Col. Eric Johnson, 341st RCS commander, echoed Colonel Whiat's sentiments. "The genesis of this exchange program came from wanting to know more about our counterpart's processes," he said. "Both sides now have a greater appreciation for the other's responsibilities. "It has made an immediate impact on our processes. It has given the recruiters and MTIs a number of areas where we can work to reduce avoidable attrition. We all have a stake in the accession pipeline and are determined to do all we can to limit attrition." Colonel Johnson said the recruiting squadron is stressing fitness programs more than ever. Recruiters who shadowed MTIs learned that trainees involved in the Delayed Entry Program with an active fitness program excelled on the initial fitness examination. After seeing first-hand how the recruiting process works, both sergeants are also more determined to show that MTIs are training for success. "No longer can you look back and say these trainees are not fit," said Sergeant Flores. "You definitely have to train for success. I believe now you have to step up your game as an MTI." "A lot of times people think we have to weed out the weak mentality as opposed to training for success; that is definitely not the case," Sergeant Bass said. "Understanding the process and what it took to get the trainees here, it won't be that easy for us to let them walk out the door." Colonel Whiat and Colonel Johnson said they each see the program as a win-win situation. "This is an opportunity to improve our practices and get a better understanding of how we fit into the entire accessions pipeline," Colonel Whiat said. "We have strengthened the teamwork necessary to develop Airmen for the functional career fields," Colonel Johnson said.