ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 97th Operations Group leadership kicked off the Year of the Instructor by honoring ten Airmen with Air Education and Training Command master instructor badges at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 15, 2022.
“(Master instructors) are exceptionally qualified,” said Col. Scott Linck, 97th OG commander. “It is something that allows us to recognize those of us that stand out even more so from the very skilled guys and gals that we already have here.”
Lt. Col. Adam Glover, 97th Operations Group deputy commander, was one of the ten who earned the master instructor badge.
“I’ve been an instructor in the C-17 for a while now and it’s one of the things I enjoy most in the Air Force,” said Glover. “Since coming to Altus, I have been able to refine how I teach and instruct students in general and the designation as a master instructor is the culmination of my journey as an instructor.”
Glover explains, in order to become a master instructor, there are several requirements that must be met. First, a master instructor must continue their education in some capacity toward aviation or instruction. Second, a master instructor must demonstrate exceptional instructor ability during an evaluation. Lastly, there are time requirements including two years as an instructor and six months at the formal training unit.
“The role of a master instructor is to aid in the development of both students and instructors at AAFB,” said Glover. “With that, it is important for me to engage with some of our younger instructors to grow their instructor techniques based upon the student's needs. Most often, I use my own experiences and teaching techniques as additional resources for instructors.”
The nine other recipients of the AETC master instructor badge for the first quarter were: Lt. Col. Jeffrey Ledeboer, 58th Airlift Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Bryan Guidry, 58th AS director of staff, Major Nicholas Dixon, 97th OG chief pilot of KC-46 Pegasus simulators, Major Susan Weeks, 58th AS standards and evaluations chief, Major Shane Weeks, 58th AS assistant director of operations, Major Joshua Federer, Headquarters Air Mobility Command Air Operations Squadron Detachment 2 chief C-17 instructor simulator certification pilot, Capt. Justin Robins, 54th Air Refueling Squadron chief pilot KC-135 Stratotanker evaluator, Master Sgt. Joseph Royer, 54th ARS innovation manager, and Tech. Sgt. Jeff Jaskela, 54th ARS chief of operations flight.