Deployed Airman's journey to become an MTI

Published Oct. 11, 2011
By Senior Airman Patrick McKenna
AFCENT Combat Correspondent

CAMP STONE, Afghanistan -- For those serving or those who have served, did you ever wonder where your military training instructor came from? Were they always that loud? Were they ever a regular Airman or were they mass produced at lab somewhere?

For one deployed Air Force civil engineer, that journey, sans the lab, is scheduled to begin early next year after he returns home.

Staff Sgt. Chananyah Stuart, from the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, is currently deployed to Camp Stone, Afghanistan, as an engineer for Regional Support Command West. While en route to his deployed unit, he received word his package to become an MTI had been approved and he and his family would move to Lackland AFB, Texas, to begin the next chapter of his military career.

That career began nine years ago following the Sept. 11 attacks. Stuart was a high school senior in Miami and when he had time to process what had happened, he said he decided to join the Air Force. Since then, he's spent the past nine years honing his skills as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician and has deployed three times.

Now as he works to build up Afghan facilities so they have the infrastructure to grow their army and police forces, Stuart looks forward to helping develop the future Air Force recruits and help them grow into Airmen.

"It's a dream soon to come true," said Stuart. "The reason I applied for MTI duty is because the Air Force has done so much for me, I really want to give back. I know it's hard work and long hours, but transforming civilians to military men and women to keep our Air Force going should be fulfilling."

Stuart isn't waiting until his MTI training begins to start preparing. Those who work with him all say he's got a big heart and is a bit soft spoken. The latter trait is something Stuart is working on while deployed.

"For MTI training, I am doing various things to help prepare," Stuart said. "Whenever I can I practice shouting for long periods of times to get my voice used to it as well as getting myself comfortable yelling."

In addition to getting himself ready to scream into the faces of hundreds of future Airmen, Stuart spends his off time studying drill movements and learning the many different counseling methods he may have to employ.

Becoming an MTI isn't a small change and certainly comes with its share of challenges, but Stuart contends that with the support of his wife Latonya he'll be ready to handle anything thrown his way.

"My wife is very supportive of my decision although she knows it will be hard sometimes," he said. "I may miss birthday parties, anniversaries and school activities, but she knows it's only for a short period of time and it's worth it."

Stuart's plans for his future don't stop at becoming an MTI. He's set high goals for himself both personally and professionally. He's taking two college courses while deployed and is slated to complete his bachelor's degree before his deployment ends. Professionally, Stuart hopes his time as an MTI is just the first step in a career of watching out for fellow Airmen.

"My ultimate goal is to be a first sergeant in the Air Force," Stuart said. "The experiences I'm having here and what I'm about to get as an MTI will equip me with the tools I need to get the job done. My parents always told me that hard works pays off and that is how I live my life."