News United States Air Force
 CSAF, CMSAF inspire during Thanksgiving visit to BMTPublished Nov. 27, 2023
                        
                        By Christa D’Andrea
                        
                        
                        37th Training Wing Public Affairs
                **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --**
                Just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Air Force Chief of Staff **Gen. David Allvin** made his first visit to the **37th Training Wing**, marking the occasion by presiding over the oath of enlistment for 756 graduating Airmen.More than 700 Airmen assigned to Flights 1-17, graduated from U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, November 21-22, 2023. The events mark the return to multi-squadron ceremonies. Gen. David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, reviewed the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory T. Walker)Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin reviews a basic military training graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 21, 2023. Marking the return to multi-squadron ceremonies, more than 700 Airmen assigned to 17 different flights graduated joining the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory T. Walker)
            
            
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Allvin emphasized the importance of service in the U.S. Air Force, highlighting the commitment and dedication of the next generation.
“Congratulations, you made the team,” Allvin said to the newly graduated Airmen. “This is a team that requires commitment.”
He went on to say that Airmen today are serving in a “time of consequence” and their commitment to service has never been more important.
Additionally, Allvin’s address was a reminder of the magnitude of the oath they were about to take and what is yet to come in the next chapter of their life as an American Airman, reminding them to serve honorably.**Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass** also attended the event and imparted her own words of wisdom and encouragement.
“I was you over 30 years ago when I joined this winning team,” Bass said.
Bass told the crowd she signed up for the **G.I. Bill** and to “figure out life.” Four years later, she signed up again to pay off her car.
“Somewhere I learned what it really meant to be on this winning team and what it means to wear our nation’s cloth,” she added.
She then asked the graduates to make the organization better, to make their career fields better and to make the Air Force better.Senior Master Sgt. Ladiwina Gilly, greets Chief of Staff of the Air Force David W. Allvin and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. Gilliy is the Recruiting Schoolhouse superintendent and showcased recruiting training and processes during a visit to the 344th Training Squadron, Nov. 22, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan Cotto)Senior Master Sgt. Ladiwina Gilly, Air Force Recruiting Schoolhouse superintendent, greets Air Force Chief of Staff David W. Allvin and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass during a visit to the 344thTraining Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Gilliy showcased recruiting training and processes before the senior leaders revied a basic military training graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jonathan Cotto)
            
            
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    More than 700 Airmen assigned to Flights 1-17, graduated from U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, November 21-22, 2023. The events mark the return to multi-squadron ceremonies. Gen. David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, reviewed the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory T. Walker)Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, center back, salute during a basic military graduation at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Nov. 21, 2023. More than 700 Airmen, assigned to 17 different flights, graduated marking the return to multi-squadron ceremonies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory T. Walker)
            
            
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    Gen. David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass visited Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Nov. 22. During their visit the leadership team toured a Basic Military Training dormitory. While there observing a trainee’s bed and locker area, Allvin decided to “pull a 341” for the trainee who is only in their second week of training. He indicated on the 341 that “this is impressive ... keep pushing” and signed it “CSAF #23.”  The 341 is used in BMT to document performance discrepancies and excellence. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory T. Walker)Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass pen a note of encouragement to a basic military training trainee during a visit to a dormitory at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Nov. 22, 2023. During their visit, the leadership team interacted with trainees before reviewing a graduation ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gregory T. Walker)
            
            
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During the senior leader’s visit to the 37th Training Wing, they made a brief stop at the 344th Training Squadron where they were met by Senior Master Sgt. Ladiwina Gilly, Air Force Recruiting Schoolhouse superintendent.
Gilly spoke about the crucial role the schoolhouse plays in preparing recruiters to inspire and engage with the public, and showcased the behind-the-scenes role-playing training that was on-going at the time. Additionally, Gilly described the schoolhouse’s “Seats to Streets” effort.
The program is a modernized approach for recruiting students to help sharpen their skills by leaving the simulated lab room environment and taking to the streets to interact with people. With basic training graduations occurring 48 times per year, future recruiters have many opportunities to engage with guests at the Airman’s Coin Ceremony on Wednesdays.
“Seats to Streets effectively trains students on rejection and how to respond when told ‘no,’” Gilly said.
She emphasized to leadership that learning how to accept rejection was an important part of the training process.
Allvin and Bass visited with more than 60 of the Air Force’s newest recruiters in training and were able to gain insights into the training processes.
Following the recruiting schoolhouse, the visit continued along the training continuum to basic military training to tour BMT facilities and observe training in action.
While touring a dormitory and observing a trainee’s bed and locker area, Allvin decided to “pull a 341” from a trainee who was only in their second week of training. He indicated on the 341 that “this is impressive ... keep pushing” and signed it “CSAF #23.”
A **form 341** is used to document discrepancies or excellence for trainee performance. The CSAF’s note of encouragement was left on the trainee’s bed, only to be discovered later.
At the conclusion of the tour, Allvin and Bass expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome and praised the dedication and professionalism of the Airmen at the 37 TRW.
The visit underscored the vital role the wing plays in shaping the future of the Air Force.LR 



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