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AF Selects Arkansas ANG to Provide More Training
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NEWS RELEASE LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Arkansas (8/19/2002) — The Air Force has chosen the Arkansas Air National Guard to train all its active-duty C-130 loadmasters. Under a plan to consolidate similar training functions, Gen. Don Cook, commander of Air Education and Training Command, announced in June he's realigning several technical training courses, including transferring all entry-level C-130 loadmaster training here. That training begins here Aug. 6. The 189th Airlift Wing's Enlisted Aircrew Academic School will train an additional 143 loadmaster students in fiscal year 2003. Student production numbers will increase in the out years to around 300 per year. In 1988, the Enlisted Aircrew Academic School here began entry-level training for loadmasters and flight engineers for all the services, including a limited number of active-duty Air Force members. Known as the Centers of Excellence in Technical Training, the general's plan redistributes training courses and associated resources at AETC bases to align the technical expertise associated with a training discipline at one location, officials said. This change will allow students, instructors and training equipment used for similar courses to be concentrated at a single training center. C-130 loadmaster training will now be taught here, and C-17 and C-5 entry-level loadmaster training will go to Altus AFB, Okla. Previously, Sheppard AFB in Texas provided the entry-level training. The general said the reason for the change is "to bring our training centers into a better functional alignment, save money by not duplicating similar training processes at several locations and to make best use of our experienced instructor pool." In addition to training Air Force students full time, the school here is programmed to train three international students during FY 03. School officials are excited about the opportunity to take on the additional responsibility. "We'll have the capability of going to 300 students (per year)," said Chief Master Sgt. Rich Green, the school's manager. He said the school should reach that production number a few years down the road. With the increase in the number of students, the school has added three instructors. Two are active-duty members assigned to the base's 314th Operations Support Squadron and one is a guardsman. The active-duty members will work side-by-side with their ANG counterparts, but for administrative purposes, they'll still be under active-duty control. The chief said the school may receive an administrative position to assist with the added workload, but it's not been decided, yet. Students spend about four weeks learning basic airmanship, weight and balance procedures, load planning, cargo limitations, cargo restraints, safety and emergency procedures, hazardous materials handling, winching and common forms associated with the job. Graduates earn eight college credits from the Community College of the Air Force. Once they graduate, they move across base to the 314th Airlift Wing's C-130 schoolhouse to begin initial qualification training. Last 10 Stories
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2004 National Guard Bureau |
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