372nd TRS, Field Training Detachment 12: Preparing today's maintainers and tomorrow's leaders

Unit: Field Training Detachment 12, 372nd Training Squadron

Location: Luke Air Force Base, Arizona

Mission: To be the Air Force’s leading source of World Class F-16 and F-35 maintenance training through sustained superior education, experience, and innovation

Vision: Enable the F-16 and F-35 maintenance force through full-spectrum training and enhanced Airmanship while developing elite and responsive educators

Motto: “Preparing today’s maintainers and tomorrow’s leaders.”

Staff: 41 Active duty members

What We Do:

Detachment 12 has an essential role in producing F-16 and F-35 maintainers and dispersing them worldwide. The det consists of three facilities utilizing eight maintenance trainers valued at over $143 million.  The det currently has 38 instructors across nine F-16 and F-35 maintenance career fields and two Military Training Leaders. 

Detachment 12 has a dynamic role in aiding Luke Air Force Base by supporting their units with a variety of courses to train maintainers. The detachment chief, Master Sgt. Gabriel Sistrunk, describes the det’s role, “Our mission is to provide advanced skills training to F-16 and F-35 maintainers after they have arrived at their first permanent duty station.  We are the largest fighter field training detachment, and will continue to grow as the F-35 program matures.  This past year, we transferred the F-16 Mission Ready Airman program to Detachment 10 at Holloman AFB.  In a team effort with Eglin AFB, we’ve taken on the F-35 Mission Ready Airman program.”

The detachment commander, Capt. Matthew Avila, describes the Mission Ready Airman program, “MRA is unique to the crew chief career field.  It enables these maintainers to receive hands-on, operational aircraft experience before starting their crew chief careers at their permanent duty stations.  As an AFSC-awarding course, it is amazing to see these young professionals gain experience and report to the flight line ready to perform their primary duties.  The work our MTLs and instructors put into producing these outstanding Airmen is a testament to their dedication.  I couldn’t ask for a better group of cadre to serve with.”