372nd Training Squadron keeps maintainers proficient

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samantha Crane
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Field Training Detachment 207, Det. 7 for short, sits on the corner of Desert and Phantom streets shrouded in mystery.

Is it empty? Are the people there on a temporary duty assignment? Do they teach self-aid and buddy care?

The mystery is finally solved.

The 372nd Training Squadron, based out of the 982nd Training Group at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, teaches more than 50 different courses to seven maintenance career fields at Mountain Home AFB.

As part of the Air Education and Training Command, the squadron's courses act as required steps in gaining five- or seven-levels, and all are Community College of the Air Force accredited.

According to the base's official Web site, www.sheppard.af.mil, the 372nd TRS's mission is to "deliver state-of-the-art aerospace maintenance training to war fighters in [the Department of Defense], and our allies -- anytime, anyplace."

"We provide aircraft maintenance training to sustain the 366th Fighter Wing's ability to support its Air Expeditionary Forces combat mission," said Master Sgt. Jon Veenstra, 372nd TRS detachment chief.

Training consists of formal and on-site instruction used to qualify Airmen in skills required to operate and maintain the aircraft and equipment they are assigned to. In addition, instructors can provide technical assistance in analyzing system malfunctions on the flightline and in maintenance shops, as well as meeting organizational special training requirements.

"We try to utilize aircraft on the flightline as much as possible, but we have training equipment at the detachment we can use for troubleshooting," said Sergeant Veenstra.

The 15 enlisted instructors teach classes in the avionics, fuels, aircrew egress, aircraft crew chiefs, engines, electrical and environmental, aerospace ground equipment and weapons career fields.

"When you go through technical school, you are assigned an aircraft, but after your first base, you could get any airframe," said Sergeant Veenstra.

"We help them become more familiar with that aircraft," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Degrasse, 372nd TRS instructor.

While instructors still face temporary duty assignments where they travel to other bases to help teach, they rarely deploy.

"We do have a three-month TDY coming up to teach the Montana Guard about their 'new' F-15C Eagles, but normally we won't 'deploy,'" said Sergeant Veenstra. "Our AEF assignments are through Sheppard AFB, and we could go anywhere -- if they need us."

To receive an assignment for the four-year controlled tour, potential instructors must hold the rank of staff sergeant or above, meet physical fitness standards, have good ratings on their last five enlisted performance reports, have four years retention and be finished or within one year of a CCAF degree.

For more information on the application process, call Sergeant Veenstra at 828-6513.

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