HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Two enlisted members assigned to Air Force Life Cycle Management Center organizations here have been accepted to Officer Training School.
Tech. Sgt. Jonah Cornwell, 66th Security Forces Squadron defender, and Master Sgt. Noe Kaur, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Directorate headquartered here, will commission as officers following completion of the nine-and-a-half week program located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
“I aspired to be a commissioned officer because I not only desired the responsibility to lead at the highest echelons within the Air Force, but to also serve a cause greater than myself,” said Cornwell. “I decided to commission to maximize my own potential and inspire other Airmen to push themselves beyond their self-induced limitations.”
More than 1100 active duty enlisted Airmen applied to OTS, but only 222 were accepted, according to Col. John Kurian, AFLCMC vice commander.
The process to selection can be arduous, and involves several steps, to include taking the Air Force Officer Qualification Test, collecting letters of recommendation, and making sure all military records are in order.
“Building the OTS package is certainly a time-consuming and grueling process, but it's nothing compared to the years of buildup and prep beforehand,” said Kaur, superintendent of the Air Force Systems Networking Office at Gunter Annex, Ala.. “Building my OTS package has been a 12-year journey, but with the responsibilities, experiences, and friends I've made in the Air Force as an enlisted member, I wouldn't change a thing.”
Commissioning from the enlisted force comes with challenges and benefits for the member.
“As an enlisted Airman, I started at the lowest level within our organization,” said Cornwell. “I had the privilege of experiencing what it was like to go through Basic Military Training and work my way up through the ranks with insight to the strategic, operational, and tactical levels within our structure.”
Cornwell’s, enlisted career and accomplishments are remarkable, according to his commander, Maj. Brandon Casso.
“His ability to build teams, influence organizational cross-talk, and willingness to share detailed, common sense feedback with others to make systems and processes better across the Air Force is exactly what this Air Force needs in our Officer Corps,” said Casso.
Cornwell will be moving on from his role as an enlisted security forces defender to commissioned Air Battle Manager. In this role, he is expected to provide command and control within a given battle space. He believes his enlisted experience will help navigate complicated communication channels, he said.
Cornwell credits his success in the enlisted corps and future as an officer on his strong work ethic and those who have mentored him along the way.
“Rely on your intuition and lean on your mentors, everyone and every experience can add value to your own personal growth,” he said. “There are no limits to what you can achieve -- there are only the limits you place on yourself.”
The mission of OTS is to educate and train officers of character who are committed to the Air Force core values and are equipped to lead and ready to win, according the OTS website.
The program emphasizes team building, followership and knowledge acquisition during the first half of training, followed by leadership application during the second half.
Candidates are also required to complete an Air Expeditionary Force exercise and capstone field leadership assessment event, during which students demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply the communication and leadership skills learned throughout the course.