LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
When a Lackland military training instructor returned to his squadron after a three-month basic training instructor exchange between services, he had one color in mind.
"I've been so focused on Army training, I need to get re-blued a little bit," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Hite, 322nd Training Squadron, who spent February through April helping turn a platoon of recruits into Soldiers at Army basic training in Fort Benning, Ga.
Sergeant Hite said while there are differences in training and techniques, instructors in both services have like missions: mold civilians into successful military members.
"It was very different, but at the same time it was very much the same," he said. "It's the same change you see in trainees, a nervous trainee starting to gain confidence and then graduate as a military member.
"The difference is obvious: a different branch of service with its own traditions, customs and lingo, even their drill is a little different from ours. I had to fully submerge myself to make sure the Soldiers I trained were just like every other Soldier."
The training cycle instructor exchange was initiated last year by Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, then deputy commanding general of Initial Military Training for the Training and Doctrine Command, on a visit to Lackland.
After touring Fort Benning at General Hertling's invitation, Col. William H. Mott V, 37th Training Wing commander, agreed both services could learn from the exchange.
While Sergeant Hite was temporarily deployed to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry, his Army drill sergeant counterpart, Staff Sgt. David Peters, pushed 322nd TRS Flight 258 through basic military training at Lackland. Both sergeants went through the entire training cycle.
Sergeant Hite, who previously had deployed twice with Army units, said the Fort Benning drill sergeants welcomed him immediately. His platoon didn't perceive him differently from the other drill sergeants, an opportunity he used to instill the importance of services working together.
"After basic training, no matter which service, trainees come out and think that service is the best," he said. "(This exchange) helps them understand that, 'Yes, I'm a trained Soldier but there's a bigger picture.' In the end, we're all the same - United States military."
Sergeant Hite learned physically one difference between drill sergeants and MTIs.
"Drill sergeants do everything with the Soldiers in their platoon. That's like running the BEAST (Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training) with our own flight," he said. "We taught them everything."
The weekly reports and observations submitted by the sergeants to their respective training units gave each service an opportunity to assess processes for improvement.
One process the 737th Training Group was considering will move to testing later this year, reinforced by the exchange.
Senior Master Sgt. Laroy Newhouse, 322nd TRS training superintendent, said the 737th TRG had discussed having a training section, or four flights, start BMT concurrently, a change from two flights, or about 100 trainees.
An Army company, the Air Force section equivalent, goes through basic training together which Sergeant Hite found beneficial.
"From Sergeant Hite's perspective, it was easier to train those Soldiers when they were all at the same level, getting the same information at the same time," Sergeant Newhouse said.
Two short sentences summed up Sergeant Hite's participation in the exchange.
"Absolutely I'd do it again," he said. "Sign me up."