The Light at the End of the Pipeline

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steven Boles
  • 311th Training Squadron
PRESIDO OF MONTEREY, Calif. --      The training pipeline for Airborne Crypto-linguists, known as "1A8s" is long. It is not only long in the sense of months, but often years as well. For Airmen diligently working their way through the courses and exams required to one day wear those "Enlisted Aviator" wings, it can feel like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, without the box-top to use as a reference. Airmen spend over a year with only a tenuous grasp of their own futures, filling in the missing pieces of the puzzle with reports from acquaintances further down the road, stories from NCOs, and their own imagined dreams and fears, merging them into a matrix that may have no bearing on reality. On Nov. 2, a select group of 83 1A8s in training at the Defense Language Institute were treated to a glimpse of the puzzle's box-lid.
    After arriving at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the Airmen were greeted by representatives from the 60th Operations Support Squadron, who delivered a "Welcome to Travis" briefing. Many of these Airmen had never set foot on an Air Force base, aside from their training at Lackland; to be welcomed to an airbase as Airmen rather than being corralled on as incoming basic trainees is a valuable reminder of the privilege of wearing a blue suit. The briefing included the history and amenities of Travis AFB, as well as the current mission and its impact on global operations.
    Following lunch at an Air Force dining facility, the Airmen received a second briefing. If the purpose of the first was to reinvigorate pride in their blue suit, the second lit a flame of anticipation in the privilege of a Nomex suit. Despite full bellies and a darkened briefing room, all eyes were aglow as intelligence professionals in flight suits lifted the curtain and painted for these future cryptologic operators an enthusiastic portrait of the important role they will play in protecting our national security. Even the most seasoned linguists nodded in approval at the quality of questions eagerly asked by the students.
    At this point, the Airmen were split into three groups, and rotated through different tours. The Travis AFB museum graciously opened its doors, allowing Airmen who are surrounded by U.S. Army facilities day-to-day, a chance to connect with the proud history of the Air Force, including 35 static display aircraft. Next, they were welcomed to a tour of the C-17 Globemaster III, where the Airmen were guided by pilots and loadmasters through the cavernous cargo hold and flight deck of one of the largest aircraft in the fleet.
    The most anticipated tour was the RC-135 Rivet Joint, provided by Offutt Air Force Base along with a full crew to provide a detailed walk-through and explanation of the aircraft. The crew included many operators who several years earlier were language students themselves, and were able to offer to these Airmen a clear and relevant perspective on their futures. Questions ranging from deployment rates to career paths were answered frankly and enthusiastically, but a common thread through all the answers was the following: "This is an exciting career field, that is very fulfilling to its members, and the hard work invested in the long training pipeline is indeed worthwhile." 
    Each of these Airmen enlisted in the United States military during a time of geopolitical turmoil, volunteering their potential to further the goals and security of our nation, on little more than faith that their hard work and studies would pay off in the end. Thanks to the efforts and hospitality of the leadership at both Travis AFB and Offutt AFB, and the sacrifice for a day of one low-density, high-demand reconnaissance aircraft and its crew, the desire and motivation of a new generation of airborne crypto-linguists has been reignited.