SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
Unit: Field Training Detachment (FTD) 21,
372nd Training Squadron
Location: Beale Air Force Base, California
Vision: Deliver state-of-the-art maintenance and
communication training to DoD warfighters and international partners … Anytime,
Anyplace!
Mission: Optimize aerospace maintenance training to best
support the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions of
the 9th Reconnaissance Wing.
Motto: “From the Classroom to the Wrench, Instructors Pave the Way!”
Detachment 21 of the 372nd Training
Squadron, 982nd Training Group, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, provides world
class aircraft maintenance training to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and its
partners within the ISR community. Master Sgt.
Heath Traugh, Detachment Chief for Det 21, is taken aback by what he has
witnessed since his arrival in May of 2016. "Having been an instructor for AETC
earlier in my career, I understand the unique challenges instructors and
Military Training Leaders face, and I’m amazed at the level of dedication and
professionalism at which Det 21 operates. I have never seen a group of leaders more
eager to teach and inspire, while maintaining strict standards, and enjoying
what they do at the same time."
Twenty-two instructors across 12 career
fields develop and deliver 37 formal aircraft maintenance courses covering
in-depth theory of operation and advanced troubleshooting on U-2 “Dragon Lady”
and RQ-4 “Global Hawk” aircraft systems, U-2 and T-38 egress systems and
aerospace ground equipment. Det 21
delivers approximately 11,102 instructional hours and graduates 519 maintenance
technicians annually. Det 21 is the only
Mission Ready Airman technical training facility for Global Hawk and U-2 crew
chiefs in the Air Force and has two on-station Military Training Leaders that continue
the required guidance for pipeline airman attending technical training at our
facility.
Det 21 provides curriculum development
control and guidance across the U-2, RQ-4, and T-38 aircraft for the Air Combat
Command. The course curriculum expertise
of the Instructional Systems Development monitors is vital in maintaining 20
CCAF accredited courses. Two courses, in
particular, are especially important in training newly assigned crew chiefs for
the 9 RW: U-2 Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice and RQ-4 Remotely
Piloted Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice courses. Master Sgt. Randall Thornsberry, Det 21 Production Superintendent,
said "Both the U-2 and RQ-4 crew chief courses have been undergoing major
changes, improving the training for these airmen who will be maintaining the
premier intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms in the Air
Force arsenal". Thornsberry further explained, "The knowledge of
our curriculum development team and the process of developing instructional courses
is on target and on time, which allows us to deliver quality instruction and
meet the host wing’s needs while completing our mission to train and inspire
these airmen."
Consequently, the rich history of the
U-2 program recently attracted a Hollywood movie production, "Bridge of
Spies", directed by Steven Spielberg.
Two Det 21 members: Tech. Sgt. Andy Kerns and Staff Sgt. Kevin Christeson got to be
prominent extras in the movie. "It
was fantastic to be a part of this film, and it is very humbling to be a part
of the storied history of the U-2" SSgt Christeson explained. "The Cold War and Gary Powers are not
only a huge part of U-2 history, but United States history as well."