NMANG Senior NCO earns ACE award

Master Sgt. Stephen Pirtle, C-130 maintainer from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, conducts an inspection during the C-130 aircraft maintenance apprentice course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Oct. 26, 2012. Pirtle earned the "ACE" award for achieving a 100 percent average for the entire course. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

NMANG SNCO graduates with ACE award

Published Oct. 29, 2012
By Dan Hawkins
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Master Sgt. Stephen Pirtle received the ACE Award Nov. 1, 2012, upon graduation from the 362nd Training Squadron's C-130 aircraft maintenance course.

The ACE award is the highest academic honor a student can receive and is earned for exceptional performance by maintaining a perfect 100% average through the entire course.

The C-130 maintenance course covers eleven blocks of instruction over heavy aircraft fundamentals, maintenance documentation, airframe, electrical, avionics, utility systems, hydraulics, landing gear, flight controls, engines, propeller systems and inspections.

The course uses seven C-130 aircraft and six indoor simulation trainers that allow students hands-on training with real aircraft and aerospace systems.

Pirtle, assigned to the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, will go on to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., for follow on training before returning to his home unit.