SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
Staff Sgt. Joseph
Maas, 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 20 aerospace ground equipment instructor
and native of Grand Haven, Michigan, has been in the Air Force for 10
years and is the Instructor of the Week at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for
the week of July 5-11, 2016.
Most significant accomplishments:
“While working closely with the local AGE shop, I’ve saved more
than $15,000 by obtaining what would otherwise be scrap or junk and turned it
into functioning support equipment trainers,” Maas said. “Utilization of actual
components allows for a more detailed explanation. While the students have the
physical part in their hand they can actually see components moving, what part
does what and when it does it. This has been invaluable to the different
courses as we can’t just disassemble operational units for the sake of training.”
“Another example is a $10,000 triple drive assembly that I
procured at no cost and will be used here at 373rd Training Squadron Detachment
20, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as a trainer,” he said. “The triple drive will
allow me to go one step beyond the plan of instruction and show just how the
power from the engine gets distributed to the generator, compressor and blower
on the particular unit it came from.”
“I’ve also been fortunate to obtain a small diesel engine valued
at $4,000 which is used in new generation heaters,” Maas continued. “I plan to
use the engine in two other courses, showing typical diesel engines operation.”
Airman’s story:
“My story starts back on my 18th birthday,” Maas said. “My
father gave me an ultimatum of moving out of the house or showing him papers
for joining the military. So I moved out that day. After a year of mindless
factory work, I decided to give the military a shot. Joining back in 2006, my
goal was to at least make it over to Germany on the Air Forces dime while
trying leave whatever I was in charge of at least a little bit better than when
I got it. Now at Detachment 20, I’ve replaced an exceptional instructor and my
aim is to once again take what was started and continue building onto it. I
enjoy teaching my students all that I can so if they can take away even the
smallest bit of information they didn’t know, I feel that I’ve succeeded.”
Supervisor
comments:
“Since arriving at
Detachment 20, Staff Sergeant Maas has hit the ground running,” said Tech. Sgt.
Ryan Nehmer, 373rd TRS instructor supervisor. “Wasting no time he quickly
completed the basic instructor course and became fully qualified in just four
short months. Staff Sergeant Maas eagerly stepped up and answered my call to
lead our self-inspection.”
“Additionally, he
has recently enrolled and completed his Course 15, six months early and is
actively pursuing his bachelor’s degree,” Nehmer continued. “He continually
goes above and beyond to make the training environment better. As mentioned before
he is always looking for affordable ways to make the students fully understand
the training received. He routinely receives EOC (end of course) survey
comments such as ‘outstanding instructor’ or ‘best field training detachment
course.’ He not only affects his students positively but he has set the bar
high for his peers. Staff Sergeant Maas is certainly a great asset to Detachment
20 and we only expect more great things from him, in the future.”