JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND –
It seemed appropriate for 322nd Training Squadron Flight 287 to battle gusty wind conditions at the Air Force Basic Military Training graduation parade April 19.
Assigned to carry the flags during parade, the flight fought through constantly shifting winds that gusted as high as 40 miles per hour. Even at parade rest during the event, the wind whipped flags around the Airmen's heads like a matador's cape.
"It's not easy carrying flags in 40-knot winds," said Col. Mark Camerer, 37th Training Wing commander to the approximate 4,000 people in attendance at the graduation. "You've done a phenomenal job."
"I'll remember the flag," said Airman First Class Devin Tillman about what he'll recall from graduation. "It was always in our face. And I had to make sure I heard all the commands. It was tough."
Learning to deal with the windy conditions was just another hurdle to overcome for the flight. The trainees had struggled with drill marching at times during their 8½ weeks in BMT but eventually moved beyond a level expected by their military training instructors. Tillman praised the instructors for having the flight Air Force-ready.
"Our MTIs were great," the Georgia native said. "Sgt. Swift (Staff Sgt. Katrevious Swift, the flight's team chief) was excellent. She made sure we had discipline and that we reflected everything the Air Force was about.
"She was a perfectionist. She wanted it done right and we got it done for her," the honor graduate said. "We tried our best to get where she wanted us to be and I think we're there."
Swift was pleased with the flight's development from arrival to graduation, particularly when it came to drill.
"They have exceeded my expectations," said Swift. "When they first arrived, marching was a challenge; now they're very confident in their marching."
Flight 287 was Swift's second as a team chief. Her first flight was all female so the instructor made some minor adjustments in teaching methods for the all-male flight.
"The biggest difference is physical," Swift said. "(Because of that, in some ways) you can't train a male flight the same way as a female flight. Every flight is going to be different in the way you lead them because you're dealing with different personalities and behaviors."
"For example, with this flight I did more drill repetition and breaking it down step-by-step," she said.
In the end, the extra time devoted to drill paid off during parade. The Airmen will also reap those attention-to-detail benefits as they enter the operational Air Force after technical training school.
The instructors emphasized throughout training the importance of reaching maximum performance levels, not just the minimum. It falls right in line with the Air Force core values instructors accentuate in BMT.
"We stressed to them excellence is not just meeting the standards, it's exceeding those standards," said Swift. "They were a good flight, very motivating for me and I'm very proud of them."
Tillman said his memories about BMT won't be lost when he looks back at his training experience in the future.
"I'll always remember my flight," said Tillman. "We had no idea who we were at the beginning; now we're best friends. And I won't have any trouble remembering who my MTI was either."