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Reserve MTIs educate members on special duty opportunities

  • Published
  • By MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing / Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Adam C. Borgman --  Reservist military training instructors from the 433rd Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, came to MacDill AFB, Florida, in hopes of recruiting NCOs from the 927th Air Refueling Wing to train tomorrow's Airmen.

 Many reservists are unaware of the opportunities available to serve as an MTI. The 443 TRS sent MTIs to educate the reservists of the positions they need filled.

 "We have active guard reserve (AGR), active reserve technician (ART) and traditional reserve (TR) positions available for Staff Sgts to Master Sgts," said Tech Sgt. Jesse Garcia, MTI with the 433rd TRS. "There are many opportunities within the MTI corps for reserve Airmen."

 To be eligible for a job as an MTI, applicants must meet the following qualifications:
 · Be a Staff Sgt. promotable to Tech. Sgt., Tech. Sgt. promotable to Master Sgt. or be a Master Sgt.

 · At least four-years from high year of tenure
 · Skill level commensurate with pay grade
 · 42-months retainability from RNLTD
 · Overall of 5 on last three EPRs
 · No record of disciplinary action; (i.e article 15, UIF or control roster)
 · Current PT composite score of 80 or higher; no PT failures in the past 12 months

 "We are looking for highly motivated Airmen who want to give back and do the job of molding and mentoring tomorrows Air Force leaders," said Senior Master Sgt. Ricardo Chavez, 433rd TRS, AGR superintendent. "We want someone who is willing to take the next step of their career and do something larger."

 For those senior leaders that are concerned about losing their top NCOs, Chavez wants it to be clear that the investment will be well worth the temporary absence.

 "We can promise, if we get your members, we will give you a person back that is more qualified to lead and mentor, as an NCO," said Chavez. "We will likely be taking one of your top 10 percent and honing their leadership skills in a way that only MTIs receive, and then giving them back to you with a set of skills that will be unique to anyone else within your unit. We will continue to work on that foundation that the unit built and make each one better, hopefully helping turn your top 10 percent into your top one percent."

 Following with the Total Force Integration concept, you will likely not be surprised that MTIs come as Active Duty and as Reserve Airmen. Marching a flight through the parade grounds on graduation day you cannot tell which one is which according to Chavez.

 "Our Reserve MTIs are every bit as extraordinary as the Active Duty MTIs and the MTI you remember from your days in BMT," said Lt. Col. Janette L. Thode, 433rd TRS, commander. "Each MTI, Active Duty and Reserve, is hand-picked for this special duty assignment; an assignment that is likely to be the most rewarding you've ever done in the Air Force."

 Misconceptions about the training to earn the famous campaign hat or life as an MTI can sometimes prevent some of the sharpest of NCOs from volunteering.
 "Many people think they will be treated like trainees when they attend Military Training Instructor School," said Garcia. "That isn't true at all, we have already all been to BMT to learn how to be Airmen, MTIS is designed to teach us to be better NCOs and effectively teach trainees to be Airmen."

 You may remember your MTI always being in your barracks and seeming as though they never slept or went home... in fact at one time that was acrate. Although things have changed, today there are limitations that promote an increase in MTIs quality of life.

 "MTIs now work in pairs as they train flights," said Garcia. "Working in pairs allows for more off time for each of us to spend with families and furthering education. Our average work day is only eight-hours similar to most work centers in the Air Force, and we are not allowed to work more than 10-hours."

 Whether you are looking to make the Air Force better or you want to increase your abilities as a leader and NCO, Chief Master Sgt. Jesse J. Gomez, 433rd TRS, superintendent, asks you to consider MTI duty in the Air Force Reserve.

 "We need special Airmen to develop tomorrow's Airmen," said Gomez. "Make the choice to make a change in tomorrow's Air Force. Come join our team."

 For more information about joining the MTI Corps contact Tech. Sgt. Jesse Garcia at (210) 671-2410 or Jesse.Garcia.18@us.af.mil.