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Ensuring Airman Success: Student flight prepares recruits for basic training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chauncey Reed
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, ARK. --  The 188th Wing is committed to the success of its Airmen and this commitment starts in Student Flight, at the beginning of an Airman's career. Student Flight provides valuable knowledge so recruits are as prepared as possible when they step off the bus at basic military training.

Staff Sgt. Alicdes Silva, Student Flight cadre member, emphasizes success of the individual Airman through preparation.

"We want to give them the mental and physical preparation so they more than excel and become top graduates of their classes," said Silva. "Ensuring success for this Airman now makes the 188th stronger in the future."

Student Flight's curriculum is set up in a continuous six month rotation with each month covering a specific topic. Some of the things they will learn are code of conduct, structure of the Air Force, financial management, rank structure, physical fitness and even the history of the 188th Wing.  This weekend student flight had a strong focus on physical fitness, with each of the Airman taking a practice PT Test.

Student flight member John Berryhill has been in student flight for six months and will be leaving for basic training next month. He says that Student Flight is an invaluable program.

"I have seen trainees leave and come back from basic talking about how much the knowledge they gained in student flight helped," said Berryhill. "It gives me confidence. I feel prepared and I feel like I'm part of a team I can be proud of. It's important to have pride in what you do, that's one of the reasons I joined."

Silva agreed that having pride in what you do is important and when asked if he would have a final message for trainees he said, "Have a sense of pride, you are doing something not just for yourself but for your country so others can live free and enjoy their freedom."

Ensuring Airman Success: Student flight prepares recruits for basic training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chauncey Reed
  • 188th Wing Public Affairs
EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, ARK. --  The 188th Wing is committed to the success of its Airmen and this commitment starts in Student Flight, at the beginning of an Airman's career. Student Flight provides valuable knowledge so recruits are as prepared as possible when they step off the bus at basic military training.

Staff Sgt. Alicdes Silva, Student Flight cadre member, emphasizes success of the individual Airman through preparation.

"We want to give them the mental and physical preparation so they more than excel and become top graduates of their classes," said Silva. "Ensuring success for this Airman now makes the 188th stronger in the future."

Student Flight's curriculum is set up in a continuous six month rotation with each month covering a specific topic. Some of the things they will learn are code of conduct, structure of the Air Force, financial management, rank structure, physical fitness and even the history of the 188th Wing.  This weekend student flight had a strong focus on physical fitness, with each of the Airman taking a practice PT Test.

Student flight member John Berryhill has been in student flight for six months and will be leaving for basic training next month. He says that Student Flight is an invaluable program.

"I have seen trainees leave and come back from basic talking about how much the knowledge they gained in student flight helped," said Berryhill. "It gives me confidence. I feel prepared and I feel like I'm part of a team I can be proud of. It's important to have pride in what you do, that's one of the reasons I joined."

Silva agreed that having pride in what you do is important and when asked if he would have a final message for trainees he said, "Have a sense of pride, you are doing something not just for yourself but for your country so others can live free and enjoy their freedom."