Niagara implements Air Force Reserve trainee program

by Staff Sgt. Andrew Caya
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/18/2012 - NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- There is a new flight on base. However, it is not made of Airmen. Instead, trainees make up the ranks of the new development and training flight.

New enlistees to the 914th Airlift Wing now drill and train here on base while in the delayed entry program before going to Texas for basic military training.

"Basically, this flight is to make sure the trainees are prepared for basic training," said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Denehy, 914 AW senior recruiter.

The time frame that members spend in the delayed entry program can range anywhere from one month to 12 months.

"As soon as a member enlists, to the time they leave for basic training, they come in and drill on the Saturday of the Unit Training Assembly," said Tech Sgt. Alexander Pacheco, NCOIC of the development and training flight.

"(The trainees) are a part of the unit now," said Denehy. "They are learning; their weekends are very productive. Some of them may have a little bit of a shock because Sergeant Pacheco is giving them a little bit of the TI (technical instructor) mentality."

Pacheco, desiring to ensure all of the trainees under his supervision are ready before they head to Texas, created a mini basic training bubble at the Niagara Falls ARS.

The flight follows a tailored course curriculum which includes rank structure, customs and courtesies, enlisted force structure, as well as dress and appearance standards.

"We test them on all of it to ensure they are gaining that knowledge," said Pacheco.

The testing goes beyond memorization, as Niagara trainees must execute all they learned while they are here.

It is mandatory that the trainees adhere to all grooming regulations found in Air Force Instruction 36-2903. Instead of wearing the Airman Battle Uniform, the trainees are required to wear conservative jeans, sneakers and are issued tan t-shirts. Before the trainees are allowed to converse, they must give a reporting statement to their superiors, said Pacheco.

Punctuality is instilled in the trainees.

"It's mandatory they have to be here and be on time, or everyone 'pushes'," said Pacheco. "It's not punishment it's more motivation. It teaches them to work as a unit...if a trainee fails, the flight fails."

And what would basic training be without physical training? The flight has mandatory physical training testing every month to prepare them for whatever the military training instructors throw at them during BMT at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Pacheco and Denehy believe this program will benefit both the member and the Air Force Reserve.

"Now they are participating," said Denehy. "I think that is going to cut back on the DEP discharges and cut down on the people who aren't making it through basic and tech school. It's also going to save the Air Force Reserve money, we know when someone goes to Lackland, they are ready because if they are not ready, Sergeant Pacheco is going to weed them out."

Both men said that before this program was implemented, it seemed not much thought was given to trainees after initial enlistment. The trainees would occasionally come in and check with their recruiter before basic and that was about it.

In the development and training flight, the trainees aren't done after Saturday during the UTAs and are in constant contact with the unit.

"They are required to check in with me on the first and 15th of every month via phone, email, text or in person," said Pacheco. "This check-in process is just to make sure that nothing negative happened to them and that they are still on track to leave for BMT."

Being part of the training flight gives new members a sense of belonging.

"The trainees are now participating in the unit before they go to basic and I think they feel they are a part of the Air Force Reserve now," said Denehy.