JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — Air Force Rated Preparatory Program (RPP) students will take control of Air Education and Training Command’s Instagram page @aetc_firstcommand March 23-24, 2022, to give an exclusive look of how the program provides Airmen a unique opportunity to gain and strengthen basic aviation skills.
Airmen receive self-paced ground training, about eight flight hours in a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 Skylane, and additional flight time in FAA-certified simulators during the one week hands-on training course—helping them become more competitive when applying to undergraduate flying training boards.
Day 1 – Wednesday, March 23
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Travis Taylor, assigned to the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, will take over the AETC Instagram page March 23.
Taylor, responsible for flight operations at the 90th Security Forces Squadron, has always had aspirations to fly, a dream he believes RPP can help him achieve.
“The thought of having my office in the air sounds like a fantasy, but in this case, hundreds of thousands of men and women have that honor,” Taylor said. “The Rated Prep Program will be a significant stepping stone towards making that dream a reality and becoming a pilot for the Air Force.”
Day 2 – Thursday, March 24
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brittany Cerino, 341st Cyberspace Operations Squadron digital network exploitation analyst at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, will take over the AETC’s Instagram page March 24.
“My love for flying began at a young age, after learning about my great uncle, Merril, who built and flew a helicopter,” Cerino said. “His story inspired me and ever since that moment I wanted to follow in his footsteps, and continue his legacy.”
Cerino was not able to pursue a degree in aviation while in college, and the door to her dream of flying was temporarily closed—a door the Rated Preparatory Program aims to reopen for her and many other Airmen.
“Due to financial constraints in college, I could not pursue a degree in aviation,” Cerino said. “This program will give me the opportunity to gain the knowledge and the experience necessary to reach my lifelong goal of earning my wings.”
During the takeover, AETC’s Instagram followers will a get a closer look at training sessions, as well as students and instructors in action while in flight. Followers will also be able to ask Taylor and Cerino questions about the ins and outs of the program.
Follow the AETC Instagram page @aetc_firstcommand.
For questions on applying to the Rated Preparatory Program, email AF.Rated.PrepProgramWorkflow@us.af.mil with “Attn: Rated Prep Program” as the subject line.
The Air Force Rated Preparatory Program is led by Air Education and Training Command’s Rated Diversity Improvement Team, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, and supported by Civil Air Patrol.
RPP is not a commissioning program, and does not guarantee participants will be selected for an Air Force rated career.