D-M opens new maintenance training complex

  • Published
  • By Maj. Rudy Cardona
  • 355th Maintenance Operations Squadron Commander
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  "Training", the main pillar of discipline our Airmen use in honing the lethality of our nation's Air Force, has always been at the forefront of building and sustaining a successful military. It is a critical part of our Airman culture, now more than ever, as our Air Force charges us to engage current and future challenges with a leaner, advanced footprint. The core goal...to develop America's Airmen today, for tomorrow.

In an effort to meet these challenges head-on, on Jan. 9 the Maintenance Operations Squadron opened its doors to the new Maintenance Training Complex at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The new facility, used to house the Maintenance Training Flight and Weapons Standardization Section, will provide space to train more than 2,000 students annually to support the base's fleet of 113 A-10, C-130, and HH-60 aircraft. This move will positively and directly impact maintenance personnel from three wings to include those in the 355th Maintenance Group, the 563rd Rescue Group, and the 755th Electronic Combat Group.

Col. Dennis Shumaker, the 355th Maintenance Group commander, and the presiding official during Friday's ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of our new training complex said, "The much needed modernization efforts have enabled the realization that a new era of training is about to begin." He went on to say, "This is a facility that meets standards, but there is still work ahead in getting a world-class training facility where it needs to be. Our Airmen deserve the very best training environment we can offer, and dare to envision".

The building features more than 19,600 square feet of space equipped with eight classrooms, two maintenance bays, dedicated tools and equipment, as well as workspace for 32 instructors and support personnel, could pose as the benchmark for Air Combat Command in providing "one-stop-shop" training for its maintainers. In addition, the facility contains a computer-based training room which enables maintenance personnel, who don't have dedicated computers and desks, the ability to log-on to a computer to conduct training and testing.

"This facility will save my squadron alone more than 5,000 duty hours per year in travel time to the new facility, not to mention the ease of expanded parking usage", said Maj. Mike Allison, the 355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander.

This renovation has taken more than two years of planning and execution. Facility studies took place to sharpen ergonomic advantages to include a built-in heating and air-conditioning system for a maintenance bay. "This slight change to facilitate a controlled environment will pay dividends in the training process", said the Maintenance Training Flight Chief, Master Sergeant Leigh Alexander, who has been instrumental in carrying out this plan from its infancy.

Although the new facility has had much support from wing leadership, the journey is just beginning. The next step in continuous improvement is to work on the Weapons Standardization side of the complex to expand classroom size and re-surface the hangar floor.

A direct enabler of lethal airpower, Davis-Monthan AFB's training team provides combatant commanders with well-trained, combat-ready, aircraft maintainers anytime, anywhere...and are a true testimony to the squadron motto: "The Fight Starts Here!"