Preparing the Future

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ann Butler
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

“I think D&TF is so important, because it sets our Airmen up for success, right?”

That’s what Master Sgt. Kanphirom Kananin, the 446th Airlift Wing’s Development and Training Flight (D&TF) chief, said about her role in preparing future Airmen.

When new Air Force trainees leave for basic military training (BMT), some emotions they may feel are confusion, fear, sadness, and nervousness.

Here at the 446th Airlift Wing, D&TF prepares the members for BMT after they take the Oath of Enlistment.

Every unit training assembly (UTA) for the new trainees begins sharply at 7 a.m.

Trainees file into an auditorium and absorb information from legal to finance. Trainees practice folding towels, socks and shirts, like they would be expected to do in BMT, as well as conduct physical training, or PT, activities.

“I've been in D&TF since April and coming in, just learning, getting to meet so many people, high-ranking officers, and them telling us so much advice, like save money, ask questions and stuff like that, it's just been really beneficial to me,” said Xaiver Feaster-Rivera, a member of D&TF who will be assigned to the 36th Aerial Port Squadron here after BMT.

The person who prepares the trainees is Kananin.

It's important for them, before going to basic training and tech school, to know some information about the Air Force to have a better chance of succeeding, Kananin said.

Kananin has been part of the 446th AW since 2017. Born in Thailand and moved to the United States at four years old, Kananin said she has always had a passion for helping people and wanted to be able to help inspire and develop the new generation of the Air Force.

“You get to lead and mentor them, kind of like you get to instill all the Air Force core values, things about leadership, wingman concept, warrior ethos - all those good things,” she said. “And making sure they work as a team and knowing that team effort is what's really important. Because without our Wingmen, who are we?”

D&TF gives trainees a foot in the door to what they will experience at BMT. This experience includes bringing out the leader in each future Airman.

“When I first started I wasn't really talkative or anything. I never thought I'd be the flight lead or anything like that, I was more just like, ‘I'm going to do what I need to do during these UTAs and just get out of here’, Feaster-Rivera said. “She (Kananin) kind of put me on the spot and made me an element lead and then flight lead and made me into the leader that I am.”

From finance to networking, the information Feaster-Rivera gathers and the friendships he makes causes him to think more about his career, relationships and what he wants to do with his time in the Air Force Reserve.

Now in D&TF, Feaster-Rivera thinks about the future.