JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
Editor’s note– This
article is a follow-up to the article “Tactical Air Control Party apprentice
course relocated to JBSA” published April 23.
The first class of tactical air control party apprentices
from the 342nd Training Squadron TACP schoolhouse at Joint Base San
Antonio-Lackland Medina Annex, Texas, graduated Aug. 21, 2015.
The schoolhouse relocated from Hulburt Field Air Force Base,
Fla., and began the first three-level apprentice course at JBSA April 23.
“The purpose of this schoolhouse is to produce TACP
apprentices capable of working with the Army,” said Chief Master Sgt. Matthew
Nugent 342nd TRS TACP school commandant.
For any aircraft to drop a bomb or shoot a gun, a TACP
specialist is require to talk directly to the aircraft and give clear and
concise guidance. The specialists integrate with the Army to translate their
activities and needs from green (Army language) to blue (Air Force language)
and articulate it to the aircraft overhead, said Capt. Andrew Shebelut, 342nd
TRS TACP class leader.
However, the schoolhouse has been unable to train and met
the Army’s required amount of TACP apprentices since 2006.
“We didn’t have the available resources and space on the
range,” Nugent explained. “The class size was much smaller back then; we had
around 30 students per class. Today we are programed for 40 students for every
class and we also have more instructors.”
The result of the increase in space, class size and
instructors impacted how the school produced new TACP apprentices and how the
instructors are able to teach and mentor them.
“We are better at production because we restructured the
schoolhouse,” Nugent said. “At Hulburt Field, there were three blocks of
instruction and, because of the limited manning and small class size,
instructors were aligned by blocks of instruction.”
The students would transition through three different sets
of instructors during the course of the class; one for each instruction block.
“When we moved here, I made the decision not to continue
that because in addition to the teaching curriculum, I want instructors being
NCOs and developing Airmen,” Nugent said, adding that students were now staying
with the same set of instructors through the entire class.
“The instructors of this graduating class were with the
students from day one,” he continued. “In addition to teaching them, the
instructors mentored and developed them. Our graduates are a reflection of
their instructors. They talked about life skills, their backgrounds and what
motivated them to join the Air Force. Through these conversations the Airmen
are being developed and guided. I believe good people make good Airmen who in
turn make good TACP specialists.”
The instructors’ work and efforts impressed both their
leadership and students; Nugent and Shebelut praised their professionalism. Nugent
continued to describe the instructors as “phenomenal.”
“Our NCOs are incredible,” he elaborated. “They have combat
experience. They are disciplined, great communicators and great leaders. They
are able to anticipate needs.”
Shebelut, who was in the Army for seven years before
changing services to join Air Force TACP, was impressed with their depth of job
knowledge, intensity and worth ethic.
“They provided some of the best classes since I have been in
the military,” he said. “They never ask us to do something they couldn’t do or
weren’t doing with us. They led from the front.”
The instructors teach and demonstrate to the apprentices the
various skill sets needed to execute the TACP mission. The course included
convoy training, land navigation, radio and satellite communications, combat
field skills, marksmanship, small unit tactics and conducting mission planning
during close air support scenarios.
“The course was very challenging physically and mentally,”
Shebelut said. “There was rigorous physical training every morning, ruck
marches with a lot of weight and you are constantly being tested in the
classroom.”
Following the graduation, the students embraced each other –
some with tears in their eyes.
“This is my proudest day in my military career,” Shebelut
declared. “It has been a long time coming.”
There are a few things Nugent wanted the Airmen to walk away
from the schoolhouse with.
“I want the Airmen to know that they are now part of a
close-knit group – a brotherhood that has a tremendous legacy; a legacy of
service and sacrifice and a commitment to the United States of America,” Nugent
said. “I want them to be proud and I want them to remember their experiences
with their instructors. Take away their advice, mentoring and instruction.”