An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
HomeMultimediaNewsArticle Display

Max Impact returns to Basic Training

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake McCray
WASHINGTON --  This past fall, Senior Master Sergeants Matt Ascione and Ryan Carson returned to their Air Force roots, traveling to the Basic Training facilities on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. There, they met with instructors and trainees in order to "Re-blue and re-acclimate" themselves with the basic training environment.

The trip was not just for nostalgia's sake, however. Following-up the success of their previous four original songs and music videos, Max Impact musical director Ascione and non-commissioned officer in charge Carson will create an all-new song dedicated to the Air Force's military training instructors, or MTIs.

Carson and Ascione met with MTIs at length, and shadowed them over many days as the instructors guided and molded both veteran trainees and new recruits, or "rainbows" - so called because they have not yet been issued uniforms. The visit brought back many memories for the two.

"If you went through basic military training in the late 90s and early 2000s, you remember stepping over and saying 'Chrome!' in the dormitories," said Carson. "Even as a Senior Master Sergeant 16 years later, I found myself doing just that as we visited and walked through the training squadrons. That's what you call training impact."

Carson also added, "Seeing the zero-weekers [newest Airmen] stumble around with keys around their necks to unlock their security drawer that first night at Lackland brought back many memories. I will never forget the time I spent there, and to this day I chalk it up as an important experience in my life."

The new song will be in a hard rock style and will contain lyrics which depict the lifestyle, challenges and rewards of being an MTI. Drawing upon his background in both country and rock bands, Ascione commented, "Both the lyrics and the video will focus upon the transformation from civilian to airman warrior. We're imagining a hard rock type background with lyrics vetted through and inspired by the MTIs, focusing on the eight week journey that every new recruit takes. For the video, I'm imagining we'll be filming a new trainee from home through the entire experience to graduation."

The trip was inspiring and motivating, and left the two with plenty of material from which to draw upon as they create yet another world-class musical product. Says Carson, "We are grateful for our experience at Lackland, and wish to thank the leadership there for welcoming us and letting us be a part of this important first step in an Airman's career. Our hope is to capture this transformation from civilian to warrior Airman, along with the sacrifice, professionalism and pride on display 24 hours a day, seven days a week through our MTIs. We are honored that basic military training leaders trust in us to do just that."

Stay tuned for this exciting original song and video from The U.S. Air Force Band's premier rock band, Max Impact!