US Air Force Military Training - Yearbook (Lackland, TX)

Page 13 text:

HISTORY OF LACKLAND The land that eventually became Lackland Air Force Base used to be part of Kelly Field. The pilots at Kelly used the area as a bombing range and called it 'the hill' because the flat escarpment rose steeply above their airfield. Brigadier General Frank D. Lackland became commander of the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field. He began his military career in 1911 as an infantry Lieutenant and served with George C. Marshall fthen also a lieutenantl in the Philippines before World War l. He received his wings in 1917. This made Lackland one of the Army's early band of pilots. As a colonel, he became commander of Brooks Field in 1934 before taking command at Kelly in March 1938. While at Kelly, he conceived the idea of a major training facility on the hill overlooking the field. General Lackland died on 27 April 1943 and is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. The growth of Kelly's hill to the nation's largest military center resulted from the foresight of General Lackland. On 10 October 1940, three officers were appointed to determine the requirements for establishing an aviation cadet reception center for the Gulf Coast area. The War Department approved a facility for 1,300 cadets. A letter from the Adjutant General dated 21 February 1941 authorized 62 buildings, including 42 barracks capable of housing 31 men each, five mess halls, five administration buildings, a fire station, an infirmary, a post exchange, a recreation building, warehouse, and five school buildings. ln May 1941 the planned training capacity was increased to 2,088 cadets. On 30 September 1941, the new development on the hill was designated the Air Corps Replacement Training Center CAir Crewi, Kelly Field, Texas. The first class of cadets reported for training at San Antonio on 12 November 1941, less than a month before Pearl Harbor. On 1 February 1946 the post was transferred to AAF Technical Training Command and redesignated the AAF Military Training Center. lt absorbed the Basic Training School from Harlingen Field, Texas and began basic training for enlisted personnel on 4 February. The training course was six weeks in length Q30 training daysl. On 18 September 1947 the Llnited States Air Force CUSAFl was born as a separate service. The lndroctrination Training Center UDTRCJ finally received a formal name when it became Lackland Air Force Base QAFBJ on 1 July 1947. Ceremonies that marked the naming of the base were held on 12 July. Lackland AFB grew slowly during the next few years, but saw some important changes. ln October 1948 it began basic training for the newly authorized Women in the Air Force QWAFJ. ln June 1949 Lackland began the integration of black airmen into regular units with whites. On 29 July 1950 the base population had grown to 28,803, with 3,500 male trainees already living in tents. Lackland began taking on a 'new look' during 1962. ln November the first of what was to become many new self contained dormitories for basic training were completed. Each of these three large buildings provided air conditioned living quarters, classrooms and covered drill areas for 200 trainees. The distinctive 'Smokey Bear' hat became part of the Military Training lnstructor's uniform, on 31 August 1967, making them look about two feet taller to many newly arrived trainees. The Lackland Military Training Center was renamed the Air Force Military Training Center on 1 January 1973, in recognition of the fact that it is the Air Force's only basic training center. lt is also referred to as 'The Gateway To The Air Force'. This is the place where thousands of dedicated young men and women make the transition from civilian life to the United States Air Force. Today Lackland Air Force Base is a busy community spread over almost 7,000 acres in the southwest part of San Antonio, Texas. With more than 1000 buildings, the base resembles a small city. lt has a great medical center, a modern shopping complex, theaters, restaurants, bowling alleys, swimming pools, gas stations and shady residential areas. The main purpose of Lackland, however, is still training. Dormitories, classrooms, and athletic fields cover much of the base. The daily population of Lackland now averages over 33,000 people, both military and civilian. This makes Lackland the 31st largest city in Texas. About half of this population is going to school. The great majority of students are at the Air Force Military Training Center to take basic military training. This demanding six-week course gives the men and women who enlist in the Air Force a speedy transition from civilian to military life. For them basic training is how they prove to themselves and to the Air Force that they are motivated and capable of joining the aerospace team. Many of the other students at Lackland are taking more advanced technical training in subjects ranging from law enforcement to electronics. Some of these students represent the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and various civilian government agencies. Lackland has also become an international educational community. Military personnel from over 30 nations come to learn English at the Defense Language Institute before going on to study a wide variety of military skills. l4

Page 12 text:

CMSgt Michael F. Furey Wing Superintendent Basic Military Training School CMSgt Furey is the Wing Superintendent for the Air Force Basic Military Training School. Chief Furey was born 30 December 1947 in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from St John's Prep High School, Brooklyn, New York in June 1965 and since earned an Associates Degree in Instructor Methodology from the Community College of the Air Force. Chief Furey enlisted in the Air Force on 1 November 1966 and completed basic training at Amarillo AFB in January 1967. His initial assignment as a Plumbing Specialist at Randolph AFB was followed by a tour with the 823rd Red Horse, Civil Engineering Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam from September 1968 to March 1970. Llpon his return from Southeast Asia, he was assigned to Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. He volunteered for and was selected to be a Military Training Instructor IMTD in April 1971. Upon completion of MTI School in June 1971, he was assigned to the 3727th Basic Military Training Squadron QBMTSJ. During his initial tour as an instructor, he was also assigned to the 3702nd and 3743rd Basic Military Training Squadrons. Chief Furey left Lackland in September 1974 for another tour with Red Horse, 554th Civil Engineering Squadron at Cltapao Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. Following assignment to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1975, Chief Furey returned to Lackland in June 1977. Since his return, his assignments have included instructor and section supervisor for the 3706th BMTS, NCOIC of the Military Training Branch, Headquarters BMTS, Training Superintendent for the 3707th and 3708th BMTS, Chief, Standardization Division and Wing Superintendent. He was promoted to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant on 1 August 1986. He is married to the former Cristina Sarmiento of Manila, Philippines. They have three children, Mathew, Jason, and Michael Jr.

Page 14 text:

BASE WW wlQQj z