F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Airmen from the 90th Missile Wing participated in a two-day tour of Basic Military Training during which they attended the graduation events and toured the newest training facilities at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 23-24.
Col. Stephen Kravitsky, 90th Missile Wing commander, served as the Reviewing Official for the BMT graduation parade and addressed the Air Force’s newest Airmen and their families during the culminating event of a seven and a half week rigorous training program which all enlisted Airmen must complete upon entering the military.
“Seven weeks ago, you showed up in civilian clothes. You didn’t know how to march, salute or put on a uniform. Most of you probably wondered at some point what you had gotten yourself into,” Kravitsky said. “But look how far you’ve come. You have come together as a team, and you have earned the right to be called Airmen.”
Kravitsky, who marched across the very same parade grounds 32 years ago as a brand new enlisted Airman, reflected on his own career and charged the young men and women who stood before him ready to embark on their own Air Force journeys.
“Shortly, you’re going to go to your first assignment, and I expect you to be excellent,” Kravitsky said. “I don’t expect you to be perfect; I would be a hypocrite. But if we strive for excellence every day, together we can achieve great things for our Air Force and our nation.”
Kravitsky enlisted in 1985 and served as a missile maintenance technician at Grand Forks AFB, ND for eight years. He was awarded a commission in 1994 through Officer Training School after attending night classes to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in management of computer information systems through Park University.
“Our Air Force is chock full of possibilities and opportunities to make yourself better than you are today. I am living proof of that,” Kravitsky said. “One of you could be the next chief master sergeant of the Air Force. It takes effort, dedication and hard work; but if you are willing to take the initiative and seize the opportunities that are available to you, I promise you will succeed.”
In addition to the Graduation Parade, the visiting noncommissioned officers from F.E. Warren attended the Airmen’s Run and the Coining Ceremony. They received multiple tours during which they learned how the training has changed since their experience at BMT.
“I feel re-blued,” said Master Sgt. Erica Stokes, 90th Medical Group first sergeant. “It was great to see all of the positive changes they have put in place. They put much more emphasis on recognizing the incredible achievements of these new Airmen.”
The first sergeants and first-level supervisors experienced a renewed commitment to lead their Airmen with even higher levels of excellence.
“I am leaving with a better understanding of the experience my Airmen have had when they arrive on station,” said Tech. Sgt. Cheryl Penrod, Commander’s Inspection Program manager. “I feel like that makes me better equipped to lead them.”
Whether their BMT experience was five or 32 years behind them, each Airman was inspired by the opportunity to interact with the newest members of the Air Force family.
“That moment right before the Airmen march down the bomb run encapsulates the most amount of pride and commitment you ever feel. The Air Force experience is still new, fresh and untainted,” Penrod said. “Getting to watch it again re-sparked that pride in me that I didn’t think I was ever going to get back.”