KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - LACKLAND, Texas –
The 377th Air Base Wing command team was invited to attend a Basic Military Training graduation as the reviewing officials at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, from March 13-14, 2024.
As reviewing officials, Col. Michael Power, 377th Air Base Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Antonio Cooper, 377th ABW command chief, were invited to attend the coin retreat and graduation ceremony where Power delivered a speech and administered the oath of enlistment to America’s newest Airmen.
“What an honor it is to be able to do something like this,” Power said. “It’s just amazing to see so many Airmen volunteer to serve our nation.”
During the visit, the command team was given the opportunity to visit various units to observe their mission sets. One of these units was the 321st Training Squadron “WartHogs” which is a dormitory for trainee’s actively in Basic Military Training.
The team was able to see the areas where trainee’s sleep, shower, converse, and train. Some of the military training instructors from the 321st TRS explained to the team about the many different standards that trainees are held accountable to, and the different types of training they are introduced to.
“It’s great to see everything from the other side of the lens,” Cooper said. “What a change from what it was like when I came through.”
The team also visited the 341st Training Squadron which is home for training all Department of Defense military working dogs. It was here where Power and Cooper were able to meet the instructors behind every MWD and MWD handlers and experience some of the training that goes into successfully training a military dog.
The command team finished their visit by stopping at the Air Force Security Forces Academy where they observed defenders actively conducting combative training. The command team spoke to a few Airmen who are expected to permanently change their station to Kirtland Air Force Base after their training is complete.
“I highly encourage every Airman to participate in a tour like this,” Cooper says. “It definitely reminds you and recharges you as Airmen.”