Team Little Rock members selected for OTS

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rochelle Clace
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Five members of Team Little Rock were selected for fiscal 2009 Officer Training School among 1,139 other applicants, of whom 114 were selected.

The base's Basic Officer Training selects are:

Senior Airman Dane Coppini, 19th Security Forces Squadron, 92T0/Pilot,
Staff Sgt. Sean Jensen, 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 4, 92T0/Pilot,
Tech. Sgt. Joshua Moore, 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 92T2/Air Battle Management,
Staff Sgt. Robert Runshe, 62nd Airlift Squadron, 92T2/Air Battle Management,
Tech. Sgt. Jesse Burdette, Detachment 3, 13S1/Space and Missile.

Of the 114 selected, 42 enlisted personnel Air Force-wide earned the opportunity to attend OTS and trade their stripes for gold bars as second lieutenants.

"BOT is extremely competitive," said Mary Jo Kelly, 19th Force Support Squadron education center counselor. "There were over 1,000 applications this past board. Only 42 Air Force active-duty members worldwide from the 536 who met the board were selected."

As part of the selection process, board members review both objective and subjective factors. Objectively, the board considers each applicant's academic discipline, grade point average and Air Force Officer Qualifying Test scores. Subjectively, board members evaluate work experience, accomplishments, adaptability, character, leadership ability, potential for future growth and other recommendations. For active-duty enlisted members, performance reports and commanders' recommendations are also evaluated.

"Selection is based upon the whole person concept - EPR's, experience, test scores, grades, commander's recommendation and community involvement and volunteer work," said Ms. Kelly.

Three Air Force colonels review every application. The selection process is similar to an Air Force officer promotion board. No single factor leads to an individual's selection or non-selection, according to OTS selection officials.

People selected can expect to attend Basic Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in the latter part of 2010.

The non-pilot board had a seven to 10 percent selection rate and the pilot board had a 40 to 60 percent selection rate.

"The selection rate for this last board was seven percent. Each board is different," said Ms. Kelly. "For some of the pilot boards it may be as high as 40 to 60 percent for the pilots. But not everyone can qualify with age, vision, flying class physicals, etc., for the pilot boards."

BOT trains and commissions second lieutenants to fulfill Air Force active-duty and Air Force Reserve requirements in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Academy and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Production numbers fluctuate in response to variations between projected and actual Air Force Academy and AFROTC officer accessions, and Air Force end-strength requirements.

The BOT program is comprised of 12 weeks of military instruction and leadership development for college graduates leading to a commission as a second lieutenant. The goal of this training is to instill high standards of conduct and provide officer candidates with the essential military knowledge and skills needed for effective performance as Air Force leaders.

Once basic officer trainees complete all OTS requirements they receive the oath of office and are commissioned on extended active duty as second lieutenants in the Air Force. Most of these new lieutenants attend follow-on training after OTS. Training specialties include pilot, navigation or air battle management; space and missile operations and several other support career fields. The length of this training varies according to the specialty.

"Airmen who want to be officers should first apply to Reserve Officers' Training Corp, Airman Education and Commissioning Program, Air Force Academy or Air Force Academy Prep School - these programs have higher selection rates," said Ms. Kelly.

The leaders at Little Rock Air Force Base are proud of these Airmen and also encourage others to advance their careers within the Air Force.

"This is a huge accomplishment, and a great opportunity for other Airmen to realize there are a lot of great opportunities out there," said Lt. Col. Jerome Osurman, 19th Equipment Maintenance Squadron commander. "Many times, Airmen won't submit applications because they don't know about the opportunities. The only guarantee is that if you don't apply, you won't get selected!"

For more information about OTS, active-duty Little Rock Air Force Base enlisted personnel can call the Education Center at 987-3417.

For a complete list of applicants selected, visit www.rs.af.mil.