Photo By Senior Airman Keira Rossman | U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Rayah LaBarre, 85th Flying Training Squadron first assignment...... read more read more
First Assignment Instructor Pilots (FAIPS) from Laughlin are stepping up to support Pilot Instructor Training (PIT) at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph (JBSA), Texas, ensuring instructors of tomorrow are prepared to train the next generation of U.S. Air Force pilots nationwide.
Laughlin has sent some of its brightest FAIPs to support the 559th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) at JBSA-Randolph to help alleviate training delays in PIT. Laughlin’s instructors will play a pivotal role in training new instructor pilots (IPs), referred to as upgrading instructors, at PIT to ensure the next generation of student pilots receive high-quality training.
Each Air Education and Training Command (AETC) upgrading instructor must complete the Air Force’s PIT program, which lasts about four to six months. At JBSA-Randolph upgrading instructors are guided by veteran instructors with six to ten years of military flying experience.
1st Lt. Rayah LaBarre, 85th FTS FAIP, has been temporarily assigned (TDY) to JBSA-Randolph for nearly two months. During her assignment, LaBarre has been pivotal in teaching instructors bound for five different training bases the basics of T-6A II Texan operations, including formation flying and rear-cockpit familiarization. Her hard work has been crucial in addressing the nearly six-month backlog in PIT graduations.
“My daily life as a PIT instructor was similar to Laughlin,” said LaBarre. “I would fly out and back almost every day and fly twice a day. I was able to fly with anyone, from future 85th FTS ‘Tiger’ FAIPS to Lieutenant Colonels prepping to be a squadron commander at any of the five bases.”
Beyond her flying duties, LaBarre valued the mentorship opportunities available at the 559th FTS. While she serves as an instructor in the air, on the ground she learned from the vast experiences of senior officers undergoing PIT.
“The most rewarding part of helping at PIT was how I could be a student and an instructor at the same time,” said LaBarre. “I was able to teach things that were specific to the T-6A Texan II, but also improve my own airmanship by flying with people that had much more Air Force flying experience then me. Sitting on both sides of the table forced me to be humble; while also giving me the opportunity to speak on what it is like to be a student, instructor, and upgrading instructor for those incoming to Laughlin as instructors.”
Laughlin’s primary mission is to build combat-ready Airmen, leaders and pilots. Team XL employs a dedicated team of IPs who provide tailored instruction to student pilots during Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT).
Laughlin has also recently sent Capt. Dysle Maxwell, 434th FTS FAIP, to PIT.
“The most rewarding part of my TDY to Randolph so far has been providing a recent perspective of what UPT is currently like to both PIT students on their way to UPT and PIT instructors who haven’t instructed UPT students recently,” said Maxwell. “Flying-wise, I’ve been flying almost exclusively from the front cockpit here which is something I rarely have the chance to do at Laughlin since typically that’s where the student pilot sits. This has given me a fresher perspective of what things look like from the viewpoint of a student, which I think will be useful in instructing students, especially in formation, when I return to Laughlin.”
The efforts of Laughlin's FAIPs, like LaBarre and Maxwell, support the Laughlin’s commitment to maintaining excellence in training and ensuring that the Air Force's pilot training programs continue to produce top-tier pilots and instructors.
“I’ve had a chance to talk with prior FAIPs about their careers in the Air Force after their FAIP tours and what skills they learned during their time as FAIPs helped them in their next airframes,” said Maxwell. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to go on this TDY. This will be one of my favorite memories from my time as a FAIP at Laughlin.”
By fostering these collaborations, Laughlin strengthens its training programs and pilot production efforts while also supporting the missions of Columbus AFB, Vance AFB, Sheppard AFB, and the undergraduate combat systems officer (CSO) training at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2024 09:37 |
| Story ID: | 479770 |
| Location: | LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 8 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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