Airmen recharge with newly validated Hotline Training Course

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Goodrick, (left), from Nellis Air Force Base Nev., is a student in the 366th Training Squadron Hotline Training Course and native of Lawrence Kan., trains with Airman 1st Class Jaylen Wilkens, (right), from Charleston Air Force Base S.C., who is also a student in the course and native of Pittsburg Pa., at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 7, 2015. The Hotline Training Course teaches the students how to safely manage electrified power lines in a controlled training environment. Airmen in this course wear a modified uniform to protect themselves from the various equipment and chemicals they use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle Gese/Released)

Airmen recharge with newly validated Hotline Training Course

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Goodrick, (left on the pole), from Nellis Air Force Base Nev., is a student in the 366th Training Squadron Hotline Training Course and native of Lawrence Kan., trains with Airman 1st Class Jaylen Wilkens, (right on the pole), from Charleston Air Force Base S.C., who is also a student in the course and native of Pittsburg Pa., at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 7, 2015. Goodrick and Wilkens used special tools designed to remove safety wire that secures the power lines to the insulators. Airmen in this course wear a modified uniform to protect themselves from the various equipment and chemicals they use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle Gese/Released)

Airmen recharge with newly validated Hotline Training Course

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Goodrick, (left), from Nellis Air Force Base Nev., is a student in the 366th Training Squadron Hotline Training Course and native of Lawrence Kan., trains with Airman 1st Class Jaylen Wilkens, (right), from Charleston Air Force Base S.C., who is also a student in the course and native of Pittsburg Pa., at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 7, 2015. Goodrick and Wilkens secured a tool called “the tree” that safely lifts power lines from the insulators. They use this tool to transfer the power lines to a new pole. Airmen in this course wear a modified uniform to protect themselves from the various equipment and chemicals they use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle Gese/Released)

Airmen recharge with newly validated Hotline Training Course

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Goodrick, (left), from Nellis Air Force Base Nev., is a student in the 366th Training Squadron Hotline Training Course and native of Lawrence Kan., trains with Airman 1st Class Jaylen Wilkens, (right), from Charleston Air Force Base S.C., who is also a student in the course and native of Pittsburg Pa., at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 7, 2015. Goodrick and Wilkens transferred power lines to a new pole by swapping out the cross arm and insulators. An active power line is charged with 12,470 volts of electricity. Airmen in this course wear a modified uniform to protect themselves from the various equipment and chemicals they use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle Gese/Released)

Airmen recharge with newly validated Hotline Training Course

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rocky Edwards Knode, (left), 366th Training Squadron instructor and native of Honolulu Hawaii, stand beside U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Trevor Floyd, (right), 366th Training Squadron instructor in training and native of Kansas City Mo., during their Hotline Training Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 7, 2015. Edwards Knode helped in the validation process for the new Hotline Training Course material. He also helped train Floyd to be the new instructor for the course. Airmen in this course wear a modified uniform to protect themselves from the various equipment and chemicals they use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kyle Gese/Released)

Airmen recharge with newly validated Hotline Training Course

Published Aug. 10, 2015
By Senior Airman Kyle Gese
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- It's common knowledge that plugging a cell phone into an outlet will charge the battery, but how did that power get there? Every single day Airmen train to ensure power is accessible to the base.

For more than 30 years, Airmen at Sheppard Air Force Base have accomplished countless training hours in order to complete the qualifications to become electrical systems specialists; these courses have ensured bases across the globe receive power to accomplish the mission.

Recently, Sheppard's Hotline Training Course - a course that instructs Airmen how to safely operate and maintain electrically charged power lines - partook in a new validation process upgrading its course material to today's most standard practices. Airmen in the course now experience an electrifying 183 hours of training over 23 days.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rocky Edwards Knode oversaw the validation requirements for the revised Hotline Training Course, which now incorporates more underground power lines training including transformer, high voltage overhead and underground theory.

Edwards Knode stressed the importance of the course saying, "To give you an idea of how dangerous this job could be, if the power line is energized and somebody actually touched those lines, it's pretty much over."

The lines he is talking about include 12,470 volts of overhead power, which emphasizes the importance of equipping these Airmen with the best training available.

Edwards Knode is also training a new electrical systems instructor, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Trevor Floyd, who will take over teaching the next class of Hotline Training Course students.

"I've been doing this [electrical systems engineering] for 13 years now," said Floyd, who was selected through the Developmental Special Duty process to be an instructor. "This is probably one of the best jobs I ever had. Many of our bases are moving towards underground systems, so I've had a lot of underground experience."

Floyd wishes to use his experience to provide the best possible training for the Airmen who take part in the course.

"Right now, I see the impact of our job as instructors day in and day out," Floyd said. "That light bulb turns on in these students who come through and we are able to send good qualified technicians out into the field."

According to Edwards Knode, the Air Force is transitioning from overhead to underground power lines. This new course sets the standard for the essential training needed to produce highly effective Airmen and make every dollar count.

"Some of that's aesthetics. It looks better having transformers and underground lines instead of having them overhead," he said. " But it is also easier to maintain because it's not out in the weather so it lasts a little bit longer. We could save the Air Force some money due to its longevity and relatively little maintenance costs."

"Without our career field, you don't have power to run anything," said Floyd. "We don't produce the power, but we run it to the lights, the outlets, computers - everything."

The first class of Hotline Training students is expected to graduate Aug. 12, 2015. The next time a cell phone is plugged in for a quick charge, remember all the Airmen who make that possible.