WC Missouri News

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. – Commissioning offers enlisted service members the chance to advance their careers and allows the military to promote talented members from within. The United States Air Force provides various avenues for enlisted members who aspire to become officers.

“This was my third application to get selected,” said Tech. Sgt. Steven Stuer, 509th Commander’s Support Staff special actions manager. “Only 26 people were selected this past year, and finding out I was one of them was quite the shock.”

Stuer, who was chosen for commissioning through the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program (SLECP), expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training following Officer Training School (OTS). He shared, “I’ve worked very hard to get here and it hasn’t always been easy, and seeing that hard work rewarded in this way, I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Tech. Sgt. Tyler Goheens, 393rd Bomb Squadron intelligence non-commissioned officer in charge, was also selected for SLECP and expressed his excitement for the chance to further his education. Goheens mentioned, “This is a truly awesome opportunity, and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to further my education in this way.”

Master Sgt. Joshua Tutolo, 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron specialist section chief, highlighted the importance of a letter of recommendation from the chain of command for those applying to OTS. He emphasized, “You could say that the people who know you best play a huge part in if you make it or not.”

Master Sgt. David Bunn, 509th Bomb Wing innovation office program manager, shared his experience of being selected during an OTS board but opting to apply to the Space Force OTS board instead. He mentioned, “A lot of Airmen don’t even realize that is an option. It’s even more competitive than the Air Force OTS board and I was extremely fortunate to make it.”

Col. Kieth Butler, 509th Bomb Wing commander, emphasized the value that prior enlisted members bring to the officer corps. He stated, “Prior enlisted members who earn their commission have a unique insight and perspective on how decisions impact our enlisted force.”

The Air Force provides various paths for enlisted members interested in commissioning, including options like applying to the United States Air Force Academy or joining the Air Force Reserve to attend college in the ROTC before returning to active-duty status. Regardless of the path chosen, each enlisted member brings a unique set of experiences that enrich the officer corps.

Ultimately, as Col. Kieth Butler mentioned, “Airmen are the Air Force’s greatest strength, and harnessing and retaining the experience of enlisted members enhances that strength.”