Upholding maintenance supremacy

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jose L. Hernandez
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  For many first-term Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen, their impression of training squadrons are reminiscent of technical school and basic military training days where instruction wasn't necessarily on an a personal or individual level.

However, students at the 372nd Training Squadron detachment 22 located here at Minot Air Force Base, can expect to engage in a classroom environment that is strictly designed for one-on-one training on B-52H Stratofortress familiarization of mechanical parts.

"This detachment provides a different side of typical classroom instruction," said Senior Master Sgt. John Lium, 372nd TRS Det. 22 chief. "The majority of what we teach is very hands on."

He explained the classes are specifically designed for Airmen whose Air Force careers involve performing maintenance duties on B-52 aircraft including crew chiefs and specialists.

Det. 22 is part of Air Education and Training Command and is assigned here as a tenant unit providing on-site formal technical instruction on many B-52H maintenance skills ranging from hydraulic maintenance to engine operation. The detachment currently serves approximately 230 students each year, with a projected increase for this year.

"Our training detachment offers 14 Community College of the Air Force accredited courses," said Sergeant Lium. "The classes we offer can be as short as two days to six weeks long."

Having a training detachment locally saves the Air Force a substantial amount of money said Sgt. Lium. He explained Airmen can go through maintenance courses here which avoids costly TDY expenses to technical schools elsewhere. He noted one specific course offered here saved the Air Force approximately $350,000 on travel expenses.

Tech. Sgt. Charles Waters, 372nd TRS B-52 communication and navigation mission systems instructor, said Airmen who go through these courses dive into advanced material that is very technical and requires hands on instruction to teach.

"In tech school, students learn the overall basics of aircraft maintenance and structure," said Sergeant Walters. "In the courses here we go into depth about the structure and operating systems specific to the B-52 and the students will learn common lingo that is often used here."

He added newer Airmen often don't know the specific mechanics of the B-52H. He also said in some career fields, certain courses are required for upgrade training.

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hayes, 372nd TRS aerospace repair and reclamation instructor, explained classes at the detachment are small, ranging from classes comprised of two to six students depending on the course.

"Our teaching objectives here at the detachment have always been to provide advanced quality instruction for students on a one-on-one level," said Sergeant Hayes. "It provides a better learning environment for students and it ensures we pay attention to detail during instruction and evaluation."

He added the B-52 was very manual and required visual aids to explain everything to the smallest detail during training.

Sergeant Lium explained the base currently has only one B-52 aircraft designed for training purposes but its difficult accessibility made it an unreliable tool for instruction.

"Currently the detachment houses nearly $1.3 million in training equipment that is setup strictly as instructional aides," said Sergeant Lium.

He said the equipment parts are broken down for easy accessibility and much of the training modules, control buttons and circuit panels the instructors use are nearly identical to the parts on an actual B-52.

"Accessible training equipment is truly beneficial to our students," said Sergeant Lium. "It saves 80 to 90 percent of instruction time. Otherwise we'd have to use tools to open up an active B-52 for instruction purposes which isn't the brightest idea."

He explained that ultimately they're not tying up Air Force assets, which saves time and money.

Sergeant Lium said the instructors at Det. 22 are critical to the program's success.

"Our instructors are busy at all times," he said. "When they're not out instructing, they are providing assistance in troubleshooting, maintenance, and system analysis of B-52 aircraft systems out on the flight-line as well."

"We really pride ourselves on having the most highly qualified instructors here," said Sergeant Lium. "They provide the best quality of training, which in turn produces the most productive maintainers."