Reserve Training Instructor gets top honors

  • Published
  • By By Airman Steven Jorgenson
  • 433rd Airlift Wing
Lackland AFB --  Some people say if you don't use it, you lose it when it comes to professional skills. Some people don't know the Military Training Instructor of the Year, Reservist category,
for 2007. 

A lot of things can happen in nearly a decade. In fact, time can make life a whole lot sweeter. Take one basic military instructor who left the Air Force and returned, only to receive top honors his first two years back on the job. 

Tech. Sgt. Hugo Gamarra, a 433rd Training Squadron military training instructor was recently recognized as the 2007 USAF Military Training Instructor of the Year, Reservist Category. Prior to receiving the 2007 Reserve MTI of the Year, Sergeant Gamarra received the 433rd TRS Blue Rope of the Year 2006, a prestigious in-house award given to the top blue rope within the 433rd TRS. 

Sergeant Gamarra joined the active-duty Air Force in 1991 and worked as an MTI before separating in 1996. Nine years later, Sergeant Gamarra joined the Air Force Reserve, becoming part of the 433rd TRS at Lackland AFB in 2005. 

During the April 2007, 737th Training Group Standardization Evaluation Team inspection, MTIs were evaluated on MTI teaching and qualification. Sergeant Gamarra performed exceedingly well at several tasks performed. For example, Sergeant Gamarra was evaluated on his control of a marching flight and received an 'Outstanding' rating. The contributions Sergeant Gamarra provided during the inspection boosted the 433rd TRS's overall rating to an 'Outstanding'. 

All his hard work contributed to his nomination and receipt of Reserve MTI of the Year.
Additionally, a year earlier, Sergeant Gamarra also received the 433rd TRS Blue Rope of the Year, a difficult goal to achieve, and something he is rightfully proud of. 

"The board members review your accomplishments during the year and ask several questions about MTI duties and responsibilities as well as opinionated questions," said Sergeant Gamarra. "Being nominated by itself is a great accomplishment, but actually winning it was just a dream come true." 

"What makes these awards even better for me is the fact that I had left the military as an MTI back in 1996 and returned in 2005 after almost nine years as a civilian," continued Sergeant Gamarra. 

According to Master Sgt. Julie Begley, a 433rd TRS basic military training instructor, "The experience level Technical Sgt. Gamarra has is something that many of the active duty basic military training squadrons desire ... he is a top notch NCO who can be counted on regardless of the request." 

This thought is echoed by his colleague, Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Allen, also a 433rd MTI. 
"He is a true professional and always leads by example," said Sergeant Allen. 

Sergeant Gamarra said he wishes to continue his Air Force career, remaining
"... an asset not only to the MTI corps but to the Air Force."