The Foundation Behind the Flight: A Conversation with a B-52 FTU Instructor

Official Statements

• 307th Bomb Wing, November 9: “Lt. Col. Kiel Spencer, assigned to the 307th Operations Group, built his career around two things he values most: flying and teaching. As a Formal Training Unit instructor, he plays a critical role in preparing the Air Force’s future B-52 Stratofortress aircrew, drawing on years of experience as an aviator and instructor pilot.

  Raised in an Air Force family, Spencer became familiar with military life early on. His journey eventually led him to the University of Arizona’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program, Undergraduate Pilot Training, and ultimately the B-52 community.

  Recently, Spencer took time to discuss his journey through the Air Force, his experience as an FTU instructor, and how the opportunity to develop future aviators has shaped his perspective on the service and the 307th Bomb Wing mission.

  Q: Tell us about your early days in the Air Force. What inspired you to join, and did you plan to become a B-52 FTU instructor? If so, why?

  “I was an Air Force brat myself. I knew the Air Force way of life and appreciated the opportunities, challenges, and sense of purpose associated with joining! After coming to the B-52 Formal Training Unit, I learned that B-52s offer all of the things that I appreciate about the military lifestyle - countless opportunities to receive special training, an enormous challenge with respect to the diversity of weapons/mission sets and the unique aerodynamics of flying the B-52, and a sense of purpose in being a part of a major weapon system that is a highly effective weapon and highly visible deterrent worldwide.

  I’ve always enjoyed teaching, so it felt very natural to pursue an instructor qualification and to enjoy helping other aviators improve and excel!”

  Q: Who have you become as a military professional, and how have you gotten there?

  “I started as a cadet in the University of Arizona ROTC program. I got to go to Undergraduate Pilot Training in Texas and was selected to become a first assignment instructor pilot in the T-6 after completing UPT. That was the job that helped me to learn that I love challenging, adrenaline-infused activities and I love teaching. After that assignment, I was selected for B-52s. I went to the 96th Bomb Squadron and got to go all over the world for all types of exercises and sorties. I decided to leave active duty once my pilot training commitment was up because the Reserves offered me the full-time opportunity to do the two things I enjoy more than anything in the military - fly and teach as long as I want!

  The nature of the flying community is to remain objective in your self-assessment and your assessment of others, to be honest yet respectful, to be precise, and to live within the rules. Being in the military for these adult years has afforded me countless opportunities to become well-rounded both personally and professionally. It’s also encouraged me to remain cool under pressure, problem-solve, deal effectively with all personality types, and to change the processes that should be improved.”

  Q: What’s the most unique or rewarding part of your job as an FTU instructor, and how do students benefit from it?

  “As an FTU instructor, I get to not only attend air shows and fly higher headquarters-directed missions; I also get to teach students at ALL levels, from initial qualification students to instructor upgrade students who are experienced B-52 aviators learning how to instruct other B-52 crew dogs. It’s such a fun job being paired up with students that want to learn and improve, and there’s no shortage of self-motivated people in the flying community.

  This job is most fulfilling when I get to see the lightbulb turn on when students understand concepts or attain a certain level of proficiency, and knowing that I got to be a part of making it happen. No single instructor is the reason for a student’s success or failure, but it’s a beautiful thing knowing you got to be a positive influence in a tangible way on someone’s journey toward excellence.”

  Q: How has the military shaped you?

  "As a military professional, I’ve become an officer who can be relied upon to constantly strive to improve and encourage others to improve. I naturally enjoy activities that require skill/persistence/study, and I love helping others learn and improve. The military has given me an avenue to pursue those things that God has already wired me to be fulfilled by. I wasn’t expecting that being a B-52 Instructor Pilot would be my dream job, but it’s true - there’s nothing else I’d rather do!”