Laughlin Air Force, Base, Texas -- Four Laughlin instructor pilots recently visited the United States Air Force Academy to attend an instructor enrichment program and speak to cadets.
During this trip, the IP’s briefed USAFA cadets who are interested in attending Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training and accomplishing vital continuation training for themselves.
When the IP’s weren’t busy educating cadets, they were improving themselves by exchanging ideas and insight with other instructors and practicing multiple formation takeoffs, instrument approaches, navigation, formation flights and a formation landing.
“In order to provide the best training possible to our students, we must be proficient as instructors,” said Capt. Matthew Sparta, 434th Flying Training Squadron sabre flight commander. “This means that every once in a while we need to go out and fly with other instructors to hone our skills and exchange ideas on how things should be taught.”
Once the briefings began, more than 100 cadets gathered to gain insight from the Laughlin IP’s.
During the brief the IP’s spoke about the three phases of SUPT, an average day as a student pilot, advice or ‘keys to success’ and fielded various questions.
“The cadets wanted to know what aircraft they could get from each track and how to get a particular track,” said Sparta. “We responded with a description of what each track was like and spoke to what we have been seeing at assignment night.”
The IP’s stressed the importance of working hard, having a good attitude, not arguing and being humble.
“We placed particular emphasis on the importance of teamwork and humility,” said 1st Lt. Ryan Taylor, 85th Flying Training Squadron executive officer. “The classes that share and learn from each other's mistakes tend to improve and perform better as a whole."
The IP’s also reminded the cadets the yearlong training will require them to make sacrifices.
“It is important to remember many of [you] will be flying combat missions months after completing UPT, so [you] will need to work hard for the sake of those depending on [you],” said Sparta.
With a goal of informing and motivating cadets about SUPT and becoming better instructors themselves, the IP’s hoped to make an impact with their trip to the Academy.
“With the Air Force being short on pilots, we need to make sure we are getting people motivated to attend SUPT,” said Sparta. “And the more motivated they are, the easier it is to perform our mission more effectively.”