Guardsman teaching Guardsmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 82nd Training Wing is responsible for training more than 70,000 Airmen each year, including active duty, Reserve and Guard Airmen. 

When the Air National Guard requested an additional class to train more armament Airmen, the total-force concept came into play for the 363rd Training Squadron to meet their needs. It came in the shape of a guardsman volunteering to teach the two-month course specifically for guardsmen. 

"The Air National Guard wanted to push through an out-of-cycle Guard class that we hadn't planned on, and we didn't have the manning to support," said Master Sgt. Greg Caldwell, the 363rd Training Squadron Munitions Flight chief. "We told them if the Guard could give us an instructor for the eight weeks that the class is here, then we could support pushing the class through the course." 

Once the agreement was made, accommodations were made for 12 ANG Airmen in Training to cycle through the course. 

Tech. Sgt. Clive Hiett, the volunteer from the Guard to teach the class and the ANG munitions career field manager, stepped up to the challenge to train 12 brand new Airmen in the career field. But, it came with a few sacrifices along the way. 

"I first and foremost had to ask permission from my family to have them sacrifice the time for me to come and attend the Basic Instructor's Course here at Sheppard," Sergeant Hiett said. "Being that the other half is also an 'Ammo Dawg', (my wife) basically pushed me out the door. Then I had to shadow and become certified by the ammo schoolhouse to instruct the oncoming class." 

Sergeant Hiett said he realized he could make a difference in today's Air Force by volunteering for this position. He understood the small, but significant, impact this class would have in the manning of munitions personnel.

"I would like for the Airmen to know that as guard or reserve members, we have been asked to fill many vacancies and do so on a volunteer basis. We have the right as guardsmen to say 'no,' but we would rather stand up and fight alongside our active duty brethren than watch the action going on," he said.

Sergeant Hiett said stepping up and training the class, as well as the service the future Guardsmen he trained is concerned, it's a great example of regular citizens volunteering to wear the uniform. 

"This is the driving force behind the creation of what has now become the first all-guard class to have graduated through the Munitions Systems Apprentice Course. It's important to the Air Guard simply because of what we as citizens and warriors have been called upon to do in support of the ongoing contingencies," Sergeant Hiett said.