Quality training at home station

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brittany Y. Auld
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Aircraft maintainers learn the fundamentals and basic knowledge of maintaining a B-52H Stratofortress in technical school, but learning the specifics is taught at home-station.

The 372nd Training Squadron Detachment-22 trains newly assigned crew chiefs and specialists how to maintain the B-52H at Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

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.

"We are a training detachment out of Sheppard AFB, Texas," said Master Sgt. Bridget Moore, 372nd TRS Det. 22 production supervisor. "We train aircraft maintainers in five different Air Force Specialty Codes on 13 different formal training courses."

Training is conducted daily and class sizes range from as few as one student to as many as 10 students.

"Having a small class allows for us as instructors to make sure that every student is getting the necessary information," said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Madson, 372nd TRS instructor.

Madson is the hydraulic fundamentals instructor for the B-52Hs.

"I teach them about the landing gear, flight controls and hydraulic power supply," said Madson. "Everything from how to perform routine maintenance to how to troubleshoot specific malfunctions."

Classes vary in length from two days to up to 27 days.

"Each class has limits set to maintain the best learning environment for the material being provided," said Moore.

There are currently 13 instructors assigned to Det. 22.

"We are able to teach them in the environmental conditions they face every day, to give them experience with their aircraft, to provide first-hand information that applies to them, their flight line, and their aircraft," said Moore.

On an average day Madson says he comes to work at least an hour before his students arrive and prepares his lesson for the day so he can have everything perfect to teach when they come in.

"I also use this time to maintain programs and take care of any other additional duties," said Madson. "From there on out it's just as you would imagine. I teach them until lunch, they take a break for that, and we set aside time for physical fitness training at least twice a week as well. After that we finish the day teaching and I release the students."

Having the opportunity to affect every Airman that is going to be doing hydraulic maintenance on the B-52H makes the job even better, Madson added.

"Knowing that I am providing the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron with highly skilled and well trained maintainers is probably my favorite part of the job," said Madison.

Before Madson was an instructor he was a flight chief in the hydraulic shop for the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and he said he always knew that his Airmen coming out of the training detachments were ready to perform at a high level.

"We have the unique opportunity to directly impact every young Airman that comes through our door on their way to the flight line, which is amazing," said Madson. "Without us giving the training we provide, the nuclear and conventional mission the B-52Hs accomplish would be severely impacted."