News>Feature - Military training leaders shape future through special-duty assignments
Photos
Staff Sgt. Jessica Nienhueser (center) and Staff Sgt. Ali Bueshi, 373rd Training Squadron military training leaders, inspect Det. 3 Airmen's appearances May 24, 2011, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The MTLs assure that Airmen in technical training retain the standards and discipline taught to them during basic military training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Adrian Rowan)
Staff Sgt. Jessica Nienhueser (left) and Staff Sgt. Ali Bueshi, 373rd Training Squadron military training leaders, inspect Det. 3 Airmen's appearances May 24, 2011, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The MTLs assure that Airmen in technical training retain the standards and discipline taught to them during basic military training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Adrian Rowan)
by Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
5/31/2011 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS) -- In order to fill its mission requirements, the Air Force employs service members in specialized positions to perform a specific duty. These special duties allow Airmen to step outside their conventional roles and experience a completely new side of the Air Force.
One such position is the military training leader, a position held by Staff Sgt. Ali Bueshi, the 373rd Training Squadron Det. 3 flight chief, and Staff Sgt. Jessica Nienhueser, the 373rd TRS Det. 3 assistant flight chief.
"The MTL is responsible for constantly enforcing high standards of conduct, accountability and discipline for Airmen completing technical training," Sergeant Nienhueser said. "(The MTL) serves as the middleman between the basic military training environment and regular Air Force life."
Both Sergeant Bueshi and Sergeant Nienhueser have served as MTLs for approximately one year here, supervising dozens of Airmen training to become C-5 Galaxy crew chiefs.
"One of the main benefits of being an MTL is learning to deal with many types of different personalities and challenges," Sergeant Nienhueser said. "A typical supervisor might manage a handful of Airmen per year; we've handled more than a hundred."
MTLs are involved in nearly every aspect of the Airmen's training process, from drill practice to course studies.
"One of the most important duties of the MTLs is overseeing the Airmen's physical training regimen," said 1st Lt. Ben Derry, the 373rd Training Squadron Det. 3 commander. "Sergeant Bueshi possesses a Level 1 Cross-Fit Certification, so the Airmen receive a better fitness experience than most service members on base."
However, MTLs here had to follow before they learned how to lead.
The first step to becoming an MTL begins with the submission of a special-duty application. Applicants must submit a photo of themselves, their past enlisted performance reports and must have served 48 months time-on-station. A two-week training course is conducted at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where MTLs learn the essentials of their new duty.
"(MTLs) must be able to demonstrate what they expect out of their Airmen," Sergeant Bueshi said.
MTL training teaches a number of important skills, including drill and ceremony procedures, scenario-based counseling, public speaking and human resource management.
Yet training is not enough to become a successful MTL, Sergeant Nienhueser said.
"Those who aspire to become an MTL shouldn't do it for the assignment location or incentive pay," Sergeant Nienhueser said. "With the job comes long hours, 24/7 on-call status and the challenge of helping many Airmen with personal issues. It is tough work, especially if your heart isn't in it."
Yet in the end, MTLs at Dover AFB can say they have played a key role in the careers of dozens of Airmen. Their hours of mentoring and supporting are rewarded by a "thank you" and a handshake from graduating Airmen, soon departing to their first duty station.
"The job satisfaction is what keeps you coming back to work each day," Sergeant Bueshi said.
"When the Airmen leave Det. 3, they are 100-percent squared away and prepared, thanks to the efforts of their dedicated MTLs," Lieutenant Derry said. "MTLs exhibit and instill the demeanor of success."
Comments
1/9/2012 5:23:59 PM ET Where do I go to submit a package to apply for an MTL position? I can find the requirments in many places but cannot find where to submit.
SSgt B, Nellis AFB
6/29/2011 4:33:17 PM ET All: Thanks for the comments. There is no LE here, nor are there any military police. Of course we could hand out Articles 15, but then no one would be able to remain in the Air Force after their first term was up. As for the phase back that was changed so, feel free to check out AETCI 36-2216 for the changes. Lastly, all you who think you can make a difference, please contact 2nd Air Force to submit a package. We need MTLs, MTIs, recruiters, etc. What we don't need is a bunch of people who have nothing good to say about those who enforce policy. As a SF member myself, no one thanked me for pulling them over, but at the end of the day they and others were safe. I don't do what I do to get thanks; I do what is right because it is right. I suggest everyone else get on board.
SMSgt Renee A. Concentine, Presidio of Monterey
6/15/2011 10:04:58 AM ET @SMSgt Concentine: The local PD will be called by the Security Forces Desk Sergeant to check for civil arrests, they will in turn call the TRS 1st Sgt, who in turn may call an MTL. Or the PD may call the LE Desk direct but not directly to an MTL. On to MTLs. I wasn't overly impressed with mine in tech school. He didn't seem to care, never had anyone's paperwork done on time and was rarely on time to our afternoon formations. Our motto was 'Team 8 we wait.' I didn't know it at the time, but looking back, my MTL certainly wasn't a model NCO.
SrA Muddeh, Formerly AETC
6/14/2011 1:47:05 PM ET SMSgt and 1st Sgt both of you further the E-7, 8 and 9 problem we have in the Air Force. You have drank the Kool-Aid for so long and been rewarded for it so excessively you have lost touch with reality. My experience may not be universal but not one linguist I served with EVER thanked an MTL upon graduating from DLI. Chris Kimball nailed it. Structure the training squadron like an operational squadron and start handing out Article 15s instead of phase backs. Your discipline problems will decrease. And yes matching an MTL to his/her AFSC IS the better option. I learned how NOT to be an NCO from my MTLs.
Andrew Wiedman, MD
6/12/2011 10:10:07 PM ET There is a difference between discipline and people being on a power trip. The one I remember the most was a senior airman military training leader at my technical school who was near high-year tenure and should have been booted out. Another we had called us out for not being thrilled with physical training at 4 a.m. because, and I quote, "People are dying and people are sleeping under airplanes!" This was coming from someone who probably never had been on a real deployment, since this was 2003. And the others who were enforcing standards probably couldn't live up to the same standards or close to it if their lives depended on it. I'm sure there are some great MTLs who prepare Airmen for the next level. However, the ones I dealt with were a joke.
Matt, Aurora CO
6/9/2011 2:09:37 PM ET I fully agree w SMSgt Concentine that MTLs are not only a necessity in Military Training, but also in the Air Force. The comments displayed by most of these individuals on this discussion are not even close to be correct much less relevant to the article or the Air Force. This is coming for a former MTL and a current First Sgt. Individuals who are quick to offer their opinion are also often quick to give bad advice and information. MTL responsibilities are really no different than respsonbilities of a First Sgt. MTLs do not have to be of the same AFSC as the Airmen they are mentoring. Furthermore, this point holds true for First Sgts as well. I guess because I am a prior dental tech then it goes without saying I am not an effective First Sgt for my 245 maintainers in an Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to include Navy and Marines.. Maybe we also need to ensure that all MTIs are of the same AFSC has our trainees when they go to Basic Training. This way they can relate to them in a
USAF First Sgt, Eglin
6/9/2011 11:55:54 AM ET I am so sick of airmen whining about discipline. IT IS THE MILITARY. We all knew what we were getting in to when we signed that dotted line. We don't even have it that bad in the Air Force. Ask a Soldier or Marine what would happen if they did half the stuff you get away with. It wouldn't be pretty I can guarantee that. Suck it up.
SSgt, AUAB
6/5/2011 1:47:46 PM ET I agree that MTL's are needed but the bullcrap that a lot of them put us through at the 34th was rediculous, and to mirror GB the MTL's there werent ATC so how could they possibly understand what is going on in our lives and be sympathetic to our situations? They can't. In my opinion they should at least have people from the career field mentoring tomorrow's air force
Amn, AETC
6/4/2011 3:48:31 AM ET They're making the students at DLI march all over the base now? Glad I left that place when I did.
DLI Grad, Korea
6/3/2011 9:55:50 AM ET Great point, GB. When I came back to the Keesler schoolhouse as an officer, there was of course no marching, no inspections, no inordinate discipline of any kind. I wondered at that point why first-term Airmen were subjected to such things for the duration of their school. Which brings up another point. Some technical schools are more than a year long, yet some are just weeks. Does it make sense to have the first-term Airman of the year-long school march around the base for the entire year? Again back to my first post, if you didn't learn to function as a team at BMT, you aren't going to learn it at technical school. I'm still not sure what the structure at the schoolhouse is preparing Airmen for.
Chris Kimball, Louisiana
6/3/2011 12:05:30 AM ET I was wondering whose idea it was to make the Airmen march around post. Walking to class and chatting with friends used to be one of the very few opportunities during the day that they had to decompress and stay mentally healthy throughout an extremely challenging program. The language courses are probably more demanding than any experience that most of the non-linguist MTLs have had in their lives, but they don't get that because they haven't been through the program themselves. Learning a language at DLI is a unique USAF technical school experience because it requires a framework that is more educational than training. The environment should be structured as such, which is again something that the non-linguist MTLs can't be expected to understand.
GB, POM
6/2/2011 2:21:27 PM ET When I look back at technical school down at Keesler, the role of the MTLs and the structure of the squadrons, I always wondered why it didn't mirror that of a regular squadron. I felt like the environment did little to prepare Airmen for life at their next duty stations. The MTLs served a purpose and the phase program was somewhat useful. To answer the SMSgt's question, I believe the training squadrons should have had a first sergeant just like any other operational squadron. If the PD has a problem, they go to the shirt just like in the real Air Force. I don't have a problem with the role of the MTL in general, I just think their role somewhat impedes natural progression into Air Force units. I think role redefinition is in order, not elimination of the role.
Chris Kimball, Louisiana
6/1/2011 8:28:29 PM ET Incentive pay? What incentive pay? Oh, you mean the $28 per month of extra pay?
Bobby, AETC
6/1/2011 5:41:09 PM ET The profiled MTLs are no different than the MTLs at DLI. You do not have to know the technical skills to teach and re-enforce military training. Military training includes marching, cleaning dormitories/barracks and utilizing proper customs/courtesies. As to the individual who thinks it is overkill, ask an Airman who needs help who they go to. Better yet, ask the local PD who they contact. When the students of DLI stop getting into trouble, be it AF, Navy, MC or even the Army, we can all agree it is overkill at that time. Until then, Presidio of Monterey MTLs keep doing what you do. We even got them to march. AMAZING! You guys ROCK! SMSgt Concentine,superintendent of Military Training. That means head MTL to the Army guy.
SMSgt Renee A. Concentine, Presidio of Monterey
5/31/2011 11:01:04 PM ET These MTLs sure must be different than the ones I have heard of at the Defense Language Institute. From what I have heard, there aren't any MTLs who have been linguists, which doesn't help them dealing with language students. And for many of the Airmen who are language students, they have to put up with MTLs for a good 18 months. Overkill, if you ask me.
