Las Vegas helps Air Force test straight-to-basic-training project

Dick Benoit

Thursday, July 21, 2005 | 8:34 a.m.

Las Vegas is one of three cities participating in an Air Force Recruiting Service (AFRS) test program to ship recruits to basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas directly from their hometowns.

"The program, called hometown shipping, aims to eliminate the need for applicants to visit a military entrance processing station a second time," said Staff Sgt. Marti Ribeiro in an Air Force News Service release.

The initiative allows recruiters to complete the necessary documents for applicants before going to basic training. Recruits are sworn in with the help of an active-duty or retired officer in the local area, or if none are available, are sworn in via teleconference with the nearest recruiting squadron's operations officer.

Then either the recruiter or the recruit's family can take the newly sworn-in trainee to the airport to see him or her off.

"We've had great feedback from the field on this program," said Master Sgt. James Chenaille, chief of enlisted standards at AFRS headquarters.

Some families are far away from the closest processing station and are unable to go with the recruit when he or she swears into active duty and leaves for basic training, Chenaille said.

"Right now we're testing the program in three locations: Lubbock, Texas; Las Vegas; and Billings, Mont.," he said.

"We want a variety of environments to test this program. We chose Montana, which is pretty remote, and Las Vegas, which is the exact opposite.

"This program lets applicants spend their last night (before reporting to basic training) at home with their friends and family," said Master Sgt. Timothy Hanko, a 368th Recruiting Squadron enlisted accessions recruiter in Las Vegas.

"Applicants and their families love it," said Hanko, who likes the ability to see the applicant's progression from beginning to end.

"Now we get to see them off to BMT (basic military training). It's pretty rewarding."

ROTC scholarships

Jenny Ting, Andrew Clark and Pasquale Antonelli, all 2005 Durango High School graduates, along with Taj Preciado, Western High School class of 2005, have received Air Force ROTC college scholarship offers to attend an elected college or university.

The cadets were selected to receive the scholarship certificates on the basis of comprehensive tests, high school scholastic achievement, and extra-curricular activities.

Upon graduation from college and completion of the ROTC program, the cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Air Force.

Ting is the daughter of Chen Ting and Anne Tran. Clark is the son of Lester and Debbie Clark. Preciado is the son of Rene and Maria Preciado. And Antonelli is the son of John and Helen Antonelli, all of Las Vegas.

In brief