Pre-basic training comes to the 934th

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeffery S. Williams
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION, MINN. --  The 934th Airlift Wing's Training and Development Flight, designed to give non-prior service enlistees familiarization training before they go to Basic Military Training, is fully functional and seeing signs of success.

Since the flight became operational, approximately 40 new trainees have learned about Air Force history, customs and courtesies, rank structure, and how to march in formation. They have also built strong bonds with each other, which will serve the wing well once they return from basic training and their initial tech schools.

"We've got a whole host of core curriculum. Anything foundational is what we teach. We go through dress and appearance and set some very tight standards with them," said Tech. Sgt. Rick Zenner, the flight's noncommissioned officer in charge. "Some of these trainees may only be in the program a month before shipping out to basic training. We may have others that don't have ship out dates for a school or duty position assigned, and we may have them for up to one year. This month we've got 20 who have been here in past (unit training assemblies) and seven brand new trainees."

When asked about their expectations of basic training, the trainees shared similar responses.

"I was a little intimidated, to say the least, from movie propaganda with stereotypes of the in-your-face intimidation and physicality. You hear horror stories here and there, but I didn't let it bother me too much. I didn't think it would be something I couldn't handle," said Trainee Aaron Camp, from Baldwin, Wis., who participated in his first unit training assembly.

Trainee Sarah Pearson, from Blaine, Minn., also in her first UTA said, "I knew that it was going to be hard. I knew it was going to be a mental game, so-to-speak. Seeing others as nervous as I am, I feel it would be a lot easier because others are experiencing the same feelings as me."

Trainee Jason Braun of Crystal, Minn., said, "I had no idea what to expect at all. I expected it to be a lot of physical work all day, but apparently that's not entirely right. I really didn't know what to expect."

Armed with information and a limited amount of experience, the tools they need to succeed at basic training, the expectations of the trainees have changed.

"It's really taken away a lot of the questions and anxieties that I've had. It's just been the small things that are helpful to know and will make it less of a shock when we go there," said Trainee Hannah Currie who hails from Minneapolis. "I feel much more at ease than just a couple of months ago."

Thomas Jacobson is one of the flight's senior trainees, having participated in the first meeting in February. "It's definitely lessened my nerves. It gave me a platform of what to expect. It's a lot more studying than I thought, and really makes you go there with a level-headed mind." He joins the unit from La Crosse, Wisc.

Krystin Braaten of Lindstrom, Minn., in her second UTA, has a lot of pride at stake. Her father served in the Marine Corps for 23 years and she wants to make him proud. "It's a lot less nerve wracking now. After coming here the first time, I feel like I could go to basic training tomorrow," she said during her last drill weekend before shipping off to basic training. "I think that they try and build you up and prep you, not so much scare you, as other friends in the military have said. After this program, it made me realize they aren't trying to hurt you, but they're doing their job."

Zenner is satisfied knowing that he is helping mold the future careers of his young troops. "My experience working with the Army has given me a lot of discipline and responsibility, and I've decided that I wanted to work smarter and more with people. This program gave me an opportunity to work with trainees helping to instill some values and traditions that they wouldn't normally have an opportunity to receive. I had something similar to this when I went to Army basic training, but it wasn't quite as friendly as it is today. I think this should have been done years ago. I'm just glad that it is here now."

Anybody interested in assisting Zenner may contact him at (612) 713-1564.