SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
Unit: Field
Training Detachment (FTD) 8, 372d Training Squadron
Location:
Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
Mission: Provide
technical expertise and superior airmanship to today’s warriors supporting the
Air Force’s ability to provide expeditionary combat power anywhere on the
globe.
Vision: To
be the provider of choice for all customers requiring advanced B-1 aircraft and
Aerospace Ground Equipment training
Staff:
19
What
We Do:
“Our mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base is to provide the
capability for 28th Operations Group to perform B-1B training sorties that
resemble real world combat missions at the largest training airspace over the
continental United States. The Powder
River Training Complex (PRTC) is roughly the size of the state of Indiana and attracts
air forces from many nations to hone their combat capability with the United
States Air Force as their guide” explained he Detachment Chief for 208, Senior Master Sgt. Shane
Newsom
Senior Master Sgt. Newsom further stated, “To provide that
capability, maintainers work tirelessly throughout the night to ensure the next
day’s fliers meet or exceed the aircrew’s needs and expectations. The B-1B Lancer is a difficult aircraft to maintain
and technicians require years of experience to perform this task adequately.” This experience is supplemented by the
residing experts located in the 372d Training Squadron’s Detachment 8,
Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. Housed within Det 8
are 10 AFSCs with three unique capabilities.
Det 8’s Production Superintendent, Master Sgt. Donald Brogan, said, “TDY
students come from several host units throughout the United States to receive
instruction on Aerospace Repair (A/R), Aircraft Fuel, and Hydraulic Systems.”
Tech. Sgt. Jason Gowen is the A/R Instructor and Trainer
Manager at Det 8. He noted, “Aside from
the normal Simulated Maintenance and Armament Trainers, Det 8 has the ONLY Primary/Secondary Flight Control
Trainer within the B-1B community. This
trainer provides a unique perspective of the complex B-1B flight control system
and allows students to perform various tasks to familiarize themselves with its
operation.” Of the $1.89M contract
allocated to trainer maintenance, the Flight Control Trainer consumes nearly
$717K of those funds. Tech. Sgt. Gowen added,
“For the technicians that use it, however, its value is priceless.” Additionally, our Hydraulic Systems
Instructor uses this trainer to demonstrate the various facets of flight control
operations as it integrates with the other aircraft systems.
A recent development within the B-1B community is the
assumption of the B-1B Aerospace Maintenance Apprentice (Able Chief) course that
was formerly assigned to Sheppard AFB. Det
8 is one of two FTDs that finish a B-1B Crew Chief’s 3-level awarding AFSC
pipeline course. This course, also known
as, “Mission Ready Airman” (MRA) continues the fundamentals and B-1 training
started at Sheppard. Through hands-on
training (HOT), these new crew chiefs learn to launch, recover, refuel, and
inspect operational B-1B aircraft. Once
complete with their 3-level, the newly minted crew chiefs then become a part of
their permanently assigned Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons to begin their
5-level upgrades. “With each Detachment
taking control of this course, we have the opportunity to provide students with
early introduction to the airframe and hands on experience that was otherwise
unavailable in the beginning of their enlistment,” said Senior Master Sgt. Newsom. Master Sgt. Brogan added, “We will now be able to
mold and mentor students for longer periods of time and enhance their
transition to the operational Air Force.”
The instructors at Det 8 are proud of their role
within the B-1B mission and our battle-tested methods have earned a Highly
Effective on a recent inspection. We
continue to push for greater responsibilities and to provide the best product
to the 28th Maintenance Group and other supported wings. As we press into the future, our instructors
are prepared to introduce students to the new Integrated Battle Station
modification soon to become live on all aircraft within the B-1B fleet. We are adapting our trainers to meet that
demand and are more than ready to accept the associated challenges that it
brings. Tech. Sgt. Gowen said, “Every week our
Detachment Chief, Senior Master Sgt. Newsom, asks us to own this small organization
and make it better every day. The
instructors value this empowerment and it shows with the maintainers that walk
out of our doors to provide world class combat airpower”.