Army Staff Sgt. David Peters leads Flight 258 from the 322nd Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, down the bomb run on the Air Force Basic Military Training parade grounds during graduation practice April 5, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Alan Boedeker)
Army Staff Sgt. David Peters leads Flight 258 from the 322nd Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, down the bomb run on the Air Force Basic Military Training parade grounds during graduation practice April 5, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Alan Boedeker)
by Mike Joseph
502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs
4/8/2011 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- When Army Staff Sgt. David Peters marched Air Force Basic Military Training Flight 258 past reviewing officials during a parade here April 8, it completed one half of a basic training instructor exchange between services.
The drill sergeant-military training instructor exchange has given the Air Force and Army an opportunity to evaluate basic training processes from another prospective by subject-matter experts -- NCOs who develop future military leaders.
Though some parts of basic training are service specific and methods may vary, the objective for both services' training instructors remains the same.
"The end state, regardless of (whether) we're talking about the Army (or) the Air Force, is we're looking to develop agile and adaptive Airmen and Soldiers -- leaders (who) can think on their own and accomplish the mission," Sergeant Peters said, a 14-year veteran and Army drill sergeant the past two years.
"Leading Soldiers or leading Airmen is really no different, " he said. "I'm an NCO. and I'm going to do my best to train them."
The idea for a training cycle drill sergeant-MTI exchange began to formulate last year when Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, then the deputy commanding general of Initial Military Training for the Training and Doctrine Command, visited here to see Soldiers who were training on base.
It gathered momentum after General Hertling invited Col. William H. Mott V, the 37th Training Wing commander, to tour Army basic training at Fort Benning, Ga.
"We had a great visit looking at what was just a little bit different," Colonel Mott said. "They're different words and a different environment, but it's the same character development operation.
"We had a discussion about (a long-term) exchange, but I wasn't ready," he said. "When I was approached about trying it for one class, I said, 'I'm in. Let's do it.'"
After working out the details, Sergeant Peters arrived here in early February, and Staff Sgt. Joshua Hite, a 322nd Training Squadron MTI, went to Sergeant Peters' unit, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry at Fort Benning, Ga., to train Army recruits for 9.5 weeks.
The Army drill sergeant and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Fisher, who was Sergeant Peters' MTI team instructor/trainer during the exchange, picked up the 322nd TRS flight in week zero.
The parade ended Sergeant Peters' 8.5 week-exchange.
Senior Master Sgt. Laroy Newhouse, the 322nd TRS training superintendent, said the exchange has been a good experience, and Sergeant Peters helped make it a success.
"We hate to lose him," Sergeant Newhouse said. "He's grown on us, and we like having him around.
"He's gained the respect and loyalty of his flight and peer instructors," he said. "Sergeant Peters brought with him the same mentality as our instructors here -- professionalism and the same order and discipline we expect from our instructors."
Sergeant Peters came to BMT with an open mind, not knowing what to expect. He said the Air Force's attention to detail, drill and graduation requirements were some of the differences in the two services' training along with the terminology and methods.
The veteran Soldier was confident in helping to prepare the training flight for Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training week, also sharing his knowledge on weapons and infantry skills, he said.
Sergeant Newhouse said Sergeant Peters' expertise in field training, self-aid buddy care and the M-16 rifle were beneficial to the trainees and MTIs.
"He had a good time at the BEAST, and the flights did well," Sergeant Newhouse said. "He's definitely given us a lot of input, and his ability to communicate to the flight and his chain of command has been awesome."
Comments
8/29/2012 1:50:11 AM ET Thats pretty good that services are willing to do an exchange like that. If nothing else it provides insight. I'm waiting to see a marine push a flight and an airman go to san deigo or parris island
Charley Deisla, Charlotte NC
9/17/2011 6:57:40 PM ET My name is Joseph Sherry. I had the privilege of being in Flight 258. When I first saw SGT Peters I thought to myself Whoa what the heck is an Army Drill Sergeant doing here. Throughout the 8-12 weeks of BMT our flight learned from SGT Peters who taught us alot about the M16A2. This teaching ended up allowing Flight 258 to achieve Marksmanship Flight. With all the other great things that came of this was Flight 258 being awarded Warrior Flight only missing Honor Flight by 1-point All of the additional information that SGT Peters brought to our training was very benifitial to all of our learning and experience I honestly believe that it would be very helpful to others if there would be another ArmyAir Force swap
A1C Joseph Sherry, Robins AFB GA
4/13/2011 11:10:00 AM ET These comments seem to be overreactions. This was a simple exchange program; it was not a pilot program for integration of the basic training for all services. Cross pollination is good. Let's not overreact here.
Analyst, Barksdale
4/11/2011 7:32:14 AM ET Just another step towards the Army Air Corps again. With all the Republicans and Tea Party politicians wanting to save money in D.C., you can bet your bottom dollar -pun intended- that this will be brought up and put on the table in the next 4-5 years. Hoo-ah
CAD, Down South
4/11/2011 7:16:25 AM ET Looks like the services have moved one step closer to becoming The US Armed Forces instead of individual military branches. We have been joint operating for over a century and now joint training at BMTS is the final piece of the plan that needed testing. Big question now is what will the military slogan be that combines all current branches into one team. With the recent budget crises in Congress 8 Apr 11 think of the DoD budget cut if this merger happens. What will Congress do then - reduce their numbers of personnel? Problably not.
Jay Robinson, Dover AFB DE
4/8/2011 4:29:36 PM ET Did he wear ABUs with U.S. Army while instructing at BMT?
