March brings big news for Airman

  • Published
  • By Airman Brandon May
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  March brought more than just the beginning of spring for Airman 1st Class Austin Carlman, it brought the news he was accepted into the United States Air Force Preparatory Academy.

In March, Carlman also received the news that he got promoted to Senior Airman Below-The-Zone.

Carlman, an air traffic controller with the 47th Operations Support Squadron, first heard of the prep school from a classmate in technical school. From there, Carlman looked into the school and had to complete a 50 question questionnaire to see if he was qualified for the prep school.

After completing the questionnaire, Carlman found out he was qualified, and completed his application in October of 2014.

"The process was just like applying for college." Carlman said.

The prep school emphasizes academics, military, athletics and character just like the Air Force Academy. Carlman will begin the 10-month long school July 12, 2015, and it will start with an 18-day Basic Military Training, that will focus on the military portion of the school.  The academic portion will be completed in the classroom and focus on math, science, and English. Athletic hands-on activities like football, wrestling, basketball, women's volleyball and soccer are offered to teach team leadership. Through these four areas, the prep school helps build and reinforce character, human relations and spiritual development.

Although he is less than two years into his Air Force career, Carlman has hit the ground running. Some of the key things Carlman has done to get BTZ and get accepted to the prep school was being in charge of a local high school fundraiser, was a distinguished technical school graduate, won the Airmanship Excellence Award and was a BMT element leader.

After graduating prep school, Carlman says his mind will still be open on whether or not he would like to become a pilot or an officer in the medical field. Carlman says he is just going to "buckle down" and get through it one step at a time.

"Being surrounded by good people who have supported me and helped out, and being dedicated was what helped get me to where I am," said Carlman.