MTI schoolhouse: Two Diné women training the trainer

SANTA FE – After five months of rigorous training, two Diné women “donned” their dark blue campaign hats to signify their roles as fully certified military training instructors.

Tech. Sgt. Leshenan Six-Begay and Tech. Sgt. Madison Smith both became certified military training instructors within the last few months.

They both completed the training at the 37th Training Wing in Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

According to Public Affairs Officer 2nd Lt. Kate Anderson with the 37th Training Wing Public Affairs, the 37th Training Wing is the only training wing that trains military training instructors, or MTIs. The wing conducts basic military training, which means all enlisted members come through the 37th Training Wing first. All the airmen are trained by MTIs like Six-Begay and Smith to graduate.

Carrying out a tradition

Fostering from a military family, Leshenan Six-Begay carried the rich tradition of service when she donned her hat on Jan. 4.

“I initially aspired to be in the Marines. However, my brothers recommended the Air Force due to my passion for the medical field,” said Six-Begay, who is Dziłghą́’á Tábąąhá and born for Tódík’ǫ́zhí. Her maternal grandfather is Tódích’íi’nii, and her paternal grandfather is Honágháahnii. Her parents are Anderson Six and Louise Six from Pine Springs, Arizona. Her grandparents are the late Tom Roan and the late Maggie Roan. Her nálí are the late Guy Six and the late Mary Tom Six.

Now, as an MTI, Six-Begay teaches trainees how she was raised as a child.

“Hopefully, (it will) get through to them (trainees) like, ‘Hey, this is serious. We have our standards, and you need to meet them,’” Six-Begay said about training airmen.

After she completed MTI and met her training qualifications, she was assigned to a flight within the 321st Training Squadron, which, according to Anderson, reports to the 737th Training Group, which is responsible for the Air Force Basic Military Training.

The 737th Training Group reports to the 37th Training Wing. There are several squadrons to which the MTIs can be assigned, including the 321st squadron.

“In my role as a qualified instructor, I carry out the skills and knowledge acquired during training,” Six-Begay said.

Approximately 80 percent – roughly 4,000 cadets – of Native American/Alaskan Natives serve in the Air Force, according to the Air Force demographic report on March 31, 2023, which does not include the Guard, Reserve, or Air Force Academy.

“It’s a good feeling,” Six-Begay said about meeting another Diné, who happened to be Madison Smith. “There are other people throughout the Air Force that I’ve met that are Native American,” she said. Six-Begay and Smith achieved a milestone by becoming MTIs.

Living in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, Six-Begay misses the Navajo Nation and her family, which propelled her to sustain her commitment to her duties and responsibilities.

“My motivation is being proud of where I am, growing in prayer, and having the opportunity to call back home,” she said.

Creating alternative opportunities

Fort Defiance native Madison Smith donned her hat in December 2023 and was later assigned to the 321st Training Squadron.

Smith grew up on her great-grandmother’s farm, where only Diné Bizaad was spoken. Like Six-Begay, Smith also grew up in a rich tradition of service as her late grandfather, Navajo Code Talker Jimmie Begay. Joining the U.S. Marines was her first choice because some of her family members are Marines. After extensive research into the specialties in branches, she chose the Air Force.

Smith is Táchii’nii and born for Tábąąhá. Her maternal grandfather is Tódích’íi’nii, and her paternal grandfather is Tł’ízíłání. Her parents are Rodney and Yvonne Smith. Her grandparents are Bobby and Minnie Baldwin and Charlie and Ann Arviso. Her nálí are Wilson and Helen Smith.

When Madison Smith was 10, her family moved to Phoenix for more job opportunities. She graduated from Camelback High School in 2006, then attended GateWay Community College for a nursing degree. Given the long training to become a nurse, Smith sought another opportunity to join the military and continue the family tradition.

Smith served for 15 years and has led many trainees with implemented skills and knowledge to create more opportunities for trainees. Now, as an official MTI, Smith is instilling something bigger. “It’s very rewarding,” Smith said about being Diné and overcoming the obstacles to accomplish this milestone.

Smith recalls having a Diné trainee from Flagstaff who commended her guidance as an MTI. “That’s what motivates me,” she said.

Smith said since joining the military, she had opportunities to travel throughout Europe and the U.S. “These are the opportunities the Air Force gives you to travel,” she said, adding that she knows the barriers many young people face to having a plan after high school.

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