LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
When a commercial airline jet taxied down Lackland's runway at approximately 11 a.m. on Jan. 11, a faster mode of travel for technical school-bound basic military training graduates became reality.
Two chartered commercial airline jets carrying a total of 159 BMT graduates and their possessions headed east for the 1 1/2-hour flight to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and technical training school. Beginning with those flights, the Air Force will now fly these graduates, on a weekly basis, to one of Keesler's 39 tech schools.
No longer will Airmen have to say, "I remember when I rode that bus." The days when three to four buses loaded with BMT graduates that would leave San Antonio at 1 a.m. every Monday, and after two stops, arrive at Keesler 15 hours later, are now in the past.
The change in mode of travel aligns with Department of Defense transportation and joint federal travel regulations, according to Lackland officials.
"We are eliminating a complex logistics process of multiple bus stops requiring roll calls, several feedings, sometimes hazardous road and traffic congestion conditions, and early transportation start times that resulted in a very long travel day," said Anthony Thomas, deployment and distribution flight chief, 37th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
According to Mr. Thomas, this initiative saves time in travel for technical training students, provides them transportation via the DoD preferred mode of commercial air, and improves their quality of life.
"In a nutshell, we are providing all our Airmen assigned to Lackland the same level of transportation service as any other servicemember traveling on TDY or PCS assignment," said Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Thomas said one of the main differences in air movement processing is meeting DoD and public law mandated in-transit visibility requirements, creating an air manifest with next of kin data for electronic accountability of all passengers while in transit as opposed to the manual "wet ink" roster when students rode on the bus.
And the travel change not only affects the Airmen but Lackland transportation officials as well.
"All of this is new to us and we are learning every day," said Vera Walker, section chief, 37th LRS passenger movement and air terminal section. "This was the first time we interfaced with the Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base to charter a commercial aircraft through the GOPAX system."
Ms. Walker expects the new travel process system to run smoothly and is ready for the inevitable few minor issues that may pop up, where her 36 years of experience in transportation will no doubt pay off.
Meanwhile, students each week can sit back, relax and put their trays in an upright position instead of looking out a bus window as utility poles swoosh by.