Since becoming an independent military branch in 2019, the task of turning civilians into service members has fallen on guardian instructors who began their military careers in other branches.
Job:
Military Training Instructor
Stationed:
Joint Base San Antonio
Unit:
535th Training Squadron
Instructors from across the joint force set those key moments every guardian remembers: the bus ride in the middle of the night, military training instructors creating a wall of sound and chaos, and lining up in their first formation before joining their squadron.
That's now changed.
Space Force Sgt. Morgan O. Thompson became the first guardian to complete Space Force basic military training and later graduate from military training instructor school as a Space Force military training instructor during a ceremony July 24.
This fundamental transformation falls directly under Space Training and Readiness Command. As the Space Force's warfighting crucible, Starcom's vital mission is to prepare and forge combat-credible space forces, transforming raw recruits into combat-capable guardians prepared to win in contested domains.
Unlike the Space Force MTIs who preceded her as interservice transfers, Thompson entered military service as a guardian and completed basic military training in 2021. Her return marks the first time a guardian has progressed through the service's own BMT pipeline and returned to help train its newest members.
"Graduating from MTI school just means it's time to get started," Thompson said. "It's one thing to pass a class to be an MTI. It's a whole different thing to actually be an MTI."
'Building our own culture'
Thompson enlisted at a time when Space Force BMT was in its infancy. Airmen mostly led her flight, and instructors were also adjusting to new Space Force uniforms and requirements.
"I remember how new it was," Thompson said. "We're at a point now where we're standing on our own, separate from the Air Force and truly building our own culture."
Space Force Lt. Col. Brett A. Tuning, commander of the 535th Training Squadron, Space Delta 1, which leads BMT, said Thompson's graduation demonstrates how far the service and its training program have progressed.
"This accomplishment highlights a significant milestone in the growth of the Space Force," Tuning said. "At almost 7 years old, the Space Force now has guardians who have not transferred from another service available to fill these critical training positions."
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Before becoming an MTI, Thompson served in intelligence and command support positions at assignments in the United States and overseas. Tuning said her operational experience as a noncommissioned officer will help trainees understand how the standards and lessons taught during BMT apply throughout their careers.
"Her real-world knowledge, hands-on experience and NCO experience are critical to success as a Space Force MTI," Tuning said. "Current operational experience helps drive home the 'so what' during the academic lessons trainees receive."
Setting Standards
Thompson said standards, customs and courtesies played an important role in her decision to become an instructor. She wants trainees to understand the responsibility that comes with military service.
"I first want trainees to understand and appreciate the importance of serving their country," she said. "Everyone has their own why, but at the end of the day, you are serving your country and need to be dedicated to that.
"I also want trainees to hold themselves to the standards they met during BMT throughout their entire career," she continued. "Just because someone isn't telling you to do the right thing doesn't mean it shouldn't be done."
Thompson said effective instruction requires MTIs to remember they once faced the same challenges as their trainees.
"There's not a single MTI who didn't go through what they're going through," Thompson said. "While we want them to be better and succeed, it's a journey."
Tuning said the strongest MTIs combine strict adherence to standards with compassion and resilience while modeling the Space Force core values.
Full Circle
This milestone brought Thompson's journey full circle as one of her former BMT instructors presented her campaign hat at graduation, while another was serving with the 535th Training Squadron when she arrived. Thompson said both helped shape her first impression of military service.
"They were, of course, scary to me then, but they cared and you could tell they cared," Thompson said. "I was, and still am, an incredibly curious individual and I almost always have a question when I'm learning. I was never made to feel wrong or dumb for asking questions."
As the Space Force continues to grow, MTIs like Thompson will be essential in turning civilians into guardians, space domain warfighters vital to the joint fight.
"I had very limited interaction with [Space Force] members or instructors during my BMT experience," Thompson said. "Now there is an entire squadron dedicated to Space Force BMT, with MTIs, standards and evaluations and even our own in-house guardian resilience team. The Space Force is its own organization and we are recognized as that."