News

DEPpers experience trial by fire

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Approximately 25 members of the Air Force's Delayed Entry Program received a jarring introduction to Basic Military Training at the hands of two former Military Training Instructors Feb. 17, 2012, at the Dover Air Force Base, Del., Air Mobility Command Museum.

It was far from a relaxing Friday evening for the DEPpers of Tech. Sgt. Teressa Reed's recruiting office when Senior Master Sgt. John Tingle and Master Sgt. Brent Warren, former MTIs, exploded onto the scene to provide the "wanna-be trainees" with a "teeny-tiny taste of what Air Force BMT will be like." For the soon-to-be trainees, it was enough to bring the reality of BMT to the forefront.

"It was terrifying [when the MTIs were inspecting us]; mostly, it was the fear of the unknown," said Lindsey Foley, a DEPPER scheduled to ship for BMT this summer. "For me, it definitely reinforced the image of what the Air Force is about. I think I'm ready for Basic."

Foley's pending entrance into the Air Force coincides with a time of service-wide downsizing due to ever-tightening budget constraints. It has been said that reenlistment contracts will be more intently scrutinized and fewer physical training tests failures will be tolerated. To the DEPpers, it means they must be more competitive if they hope to join the new, leaner Air Force. Knowing this, Foley upped her game for the inspection.

"I trained with an Airman on drill and maintaining bearing - that helped a lot," said Foley. "Basically, I tried to play it cool and avoid focusing on the MTIs."

Though the MTIs did their best to challenge the commitment of the DEPpers, many, including Foley, were not deterred. On the contrary, the experience helped galvanize her desire to enlist and pursue her future as one of the Air Force's newest generation of Airmen.

"To me, the Air Force represents direction and opportunity in my life. It means education, travel and camaraderie," said Foley. "I grew up as an Air Force brat and always loved the environment my mom worked in - now I am ready to be part of it."