BLUE LINEBOT Class 15-03 Issue 4

Class 15-03, this is our last week of graded measures. Relish in it; this is the beginning of

the end. There are only a couple weeks

left at OTS, but remember this is

not the end, but just the beginning of our lives as officers in the United States

Air Force. Keep up the hard work and

never quit!

Officers in the United States Air Force are held to the highest standards. There is no excuse for failure. There is nobody to pick up the slack. Officers must lead. Pericles was an orator in ancient Athens. In February of 431 B.C., Athens had their annual public funeral to honor all those who died in war. Pericles was asked to give the traditional funeral oration. During his oration he mentioned many things that apply to today’s military members and specifically their leaders. As the Airmen of class 15-03 start their new careers in the United States Air Force, hopefully they will take some lessons from Pericles.

“So died these men as became [Americans]. You, their survivors, must determine to have as unfaltering a resolution in the field, though you may pray that it may have a happier issue. And not contented with ideas derived only from words of the advantages which are bound up with the defense of your country, though these would furnish a valuable text to a speaker even before an audience so alive to them as the present, you must yourselves realize the power of [America], and feed your eyes upon her from day to day, till love of her fills your hearts; and then, when all her greatness shall break upon you, you must reflect that it was by courage, sense of duty, and a keen feeling of honor in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal failure in an enterprise could make them consent to deprive their country of their valor, but they laid it at her feet as the most glorious contribution that they could offer.”

ThaNksgIvINg FUNOver the long weekend, OTs found a variety of ways to enjoy their temporary Phase Three privileges. From golfing to sleeping, everyone tried to squeeze in some rest and relaxation however they could manage.

Nobody got into trouble, which will hopefully show the staff that class 15-03 is ready to make Phase Three a permanent change.

TUskEgEE aIrmENThis weekend Class 15-03 was able to get some perspective about the Tuskegee Airmen and some of the struggles and triumphs they had during their careers. Their stories are have and continue to inspire those who come after them in the field of aviation. They each have a unique story and experiences. Here are some facts from Tuskegee University about these incredible Arimen.

– Tuskegee University was awarded the U.S. Army Air Corps contract to help train America’s first Black military aviators because it had already invested in the development of an airfield, had a proven civilian pilot training program and its graduates performed highest on flight aptitude exams.

– The Airmen’s success in escorting bombers during World War II – having one of the lowest loss records of all the escort fighter groups, and being in constant demand for their services by the allied bomber units.- is a record unmatched by any other fighter group.

– The 99th Squadron distinguished itself by being awarded two Presidential Unit Citations (June-July 1943 and May 1944) for outstanding tactical air support and aerial combat in the 12th Air Force in Italy, before joining the 332nd Fighter Group.

– The 332nd Fighter group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its’ longest bomber escort mission to Berlin, Germany on March 24, 1945. During this mission, the Tuskegee Airmen (then known as the ‘Red Tails’) destroyed three German ME-262 jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters.

– The 332nd Fighter Group had also distinguished itself in June 1944 when two of its pilots flying P-47 Thunderbolts discovered a German destroyer in the harbor of Trieste, Italy.

TypIcaL day IN prIsoN TypIcaL day aT oTs

oTs Is a prIsoN

During the past month and a half of training at OTS, some trainees have expressed the sentiment that OTS is a prison. Some would consider this to be alarming, because OTS is where the future leaders of the world’s most advanced air force are trained. Is it feasible that such a prestigious training ground could share commonalities with a program specifically designed for criminals and delinquents?

The short answer: Yes.

While OTS is very different from a prison, there are many similarities, even down to the mission, purpose, and methods of operations.

morNINg0500 Sleep 0600 Wake up 0700 Breakfast 0800 Work 1100 Lunch

aFTErNooN1200 Work 1600 Off duty/time on yard 1700 Supper

EvENINg1800 Time for religious and specialized programming such as religious services, narcotics anonymous, etc. 2000 Return to dorm 2100 Remain in housing area 2300 Lights out; go to sleep

morNINg0430 Wake up 0500 Physical Training 0700 Breakfast 0800 Classes 1100 Lunch

aFTErNooN1200 Classes 1600 Supper 1700 OT OPS/APT

EvENINg1800 Read lessons 2000 Prepare for the next day such as additional PT, getting items from the shoppette, homework, etc. 2245 Return to dorm 2300 Lights out; go to sleep

program mIssIoNs

• OTS-Produce leaders of moral character. • Prisons-Protect the public by confining offenders and give each inmate the opportunity to rehabilitate and become productive citizens in society.

These missions are essentially synonymous: take individuals and make them better than they were. OTS is starting with an individual that has excelled thus-far in their lives. This requires the OTS staff to really work in order to help that individual make significant progress. The methods used by OTS staff to cultivate that progress are also similar to some of the methods used in prisons

mEThods oF opEraTIoN

• OTS-Privilege and Leave System• Prisons-Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme

The privilege systems are used in both scenarios because they are effective. They seek to reward individuals in the programs for doing what is right. Each of the programs also provide the administrators an opportunity to remove privileges or punish offenders of the system.

OTS is a prison, but it’s a darn good one.

Our jailers (MTIs, flight commanders, squadron commanders, and other staff) do their best to encourage us to grow rather than stagnate. Our cell consists of nice beds, desks, dressers, and a roommate who is most likely not a convicted felon. Our sentence consists of improving our minds, bodies, and fortitude for nine weeks and the end of which we will not simply rejoin society, but lead our fellow Airmen.

Get ready 15-03. Our release date is December 19. These walls won’t hold us any longer.

hoNorINg hIsTory05 Dec 1943: During World War II, The Allies were using modified Spitfires to take reconnaissance photos of occupied Europe. The Spitfires replaced its firepower with five hi-tech cameras, making it fly fast enough and high enough that it could outpace any hostile aircraft, until jet fighters were introduced into the war. The Spitfire pilots were looking for anything out of the ordinary, in particular new buildings or construction sites. The photographs were taken from the planes, after they landed, and they were sorted into three categories by photographic interpreters, depending on the level of importance. For photos of interest, reconnaissance flights were ordered of the area, during which the aircraft would fly level and straight, take overlapping photos, and effectively generate a three dimensional image of the area.This was the method used to discover many new buildings and large circular shapes on the ground at a place called Peenemünde. These shapes turned out to be Germany’s testing facility of the V1 and V2, early model pulse-jet-powered missile. After an attack on the facility in mid-August, surveillance efforts were dedicated to the approaching D-day intelligence efforts. However, on a suggestion from French resistance intelligence, a low reconnaissance flight was flown to investigate the area. The amount of fire met by the aircraft convinced pilots that their target was of high importance to the Germans. The objects photographed appeared to by ski ramps to the interpreters, a name that stuck, but was actually the storage shelters for the V1s. It was against these sites that Allied bombing raids started on December 5th. The bombing was debated, because officials were unsure of the danger of these sites or if they were simply decoys. It wasn’t until a few days after D-Day, June of the next year, that the first V1 hit London.Source: “Operation Crossbow,” History Learning Site, 2014 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/operation_crossbow.htm

carry on 15-03!

For questions, comments, or concerns contact OT Mecham at

OTMecham1503T@gmail.com