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54th Airlift Squadron flight attendants part of TFI

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Juan Flores
  • 54th Airlift Squadron
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Most people have never heard of an Air Force Flight Attendant, let alone a Total Force Integration - Flight Attendant. The reason they may have never heard of a TFI-FA is because the 54th Airlift Squadron at Scott Air Force Base is the only TFI unit of FAs in the Air Force.

In the short time I've been stationed here, I have had the opportunity to work side by side with the 73rd Airlift Squadron personnel (part of the 932nd Airlift Wing) daily. Whether it's preparing for the upcoming ORI or preparing for a mission around the world, we unite to ensure that both squadrons' personnel and resources are prepared to accomplish the mission.

As an Air Force FA, we are responsible for the safe, comfortable and reliable transportation of our nation's leaders. We don't just serve pretzels and coke like our civilian counterparts, we are culinary experts, expected to provide service equivalent to a 5-star restaurant. An Air Force FA receives safety training from civilian airlines, and attends all safety schools required to be a aircrew member in the Air Force.

To become a FA you must retrain into the 1A6X1 career field, which starts with an extensive, week-long interview process at Andrews AFB, Md., and then it's off to training.
You begin with a four-week-long Basic Aircrew Fundamentals course followed by a five-week-long Basic Flight Attendant Course at Lackland AFB, Texas. Then you must complete water and combat survival training at Fairchild AFB, Wash. Upon arrival at your duty station you attend a one week training course at a Federal Aviation Administration certified training facility and then you receive about 18 months of on-the-job training before you are fully qualified. To ensure FAs stay proficient they are evaluated every 12-17 months.

My primary job in our unit is working as an FA, however, I am also an Aircrew Scheduler. As an Aircrew Scheduler, I have a big impact in the success of our unit's mission. The 54th AS, along with the 73rd AS, flies three specially configured Boeing business jets, known to the military as C-40Cs. It is my responsibility to make sure these aircraft are manned with the proper personnel, normally three pilots, four FAs and two crew chiefs, to ensure total mission effectiveness. Together, we make sure crew members needing training, currency or evaluations, are flying on these missions and that all of our customers' needs are met.

We also ensure that all stateside hotels for the crew are taken care of and complete all visa and passport paperwork for overseas missions. As you can see, being a FA and Aircrew Scheduler keeps me very busy, but my squadron also gives me the opportunity to serve my community in a unique way.

The 54th AS has taken the lead on a great program to assist the Aeromedical Staging Facility staff in providing care for Wounded Warriors who transit Scott on their way home. With the guidance of Master Sgt. Adam Page, we provide our wounded warriors with freshly made meals, friendly conversation and a BX run. It also gives us a chance to provide a level of service to them that would normally be provided to DVs and it lets us accomplish some extra training. It is very rewarding to put a big smile on the faces of our nation's heroes.

This job has given me the opportunity to see locations and countries that no other job can. Recently, Air Force Times ranked Flight Attendants as one of the "sweetest AF gigs." I have to admit I agree with them. In the two years I have been in the 54 AS, I have been to 30 countries and flown on two missions around the world. We are also given the opportunity to meet and interact with our nation's leaders.