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JBSA News
NEWS | Sept. 4, 2015

First class of TACP apprentices at JBSA graduates

502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

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.”