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Airmen awarded for learning innovation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Air traffic controllers from the 14th Operations Support Squadron here, were recognized by Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., Air Education and Training Command commander, at the 2011 AETC Symposium as the recipients of the third annual Learning Innovation Award Jan. 21 in San Antonio, Texas.

Senior Airmen Brandon Smith and Chase Riddle, 14th OSS Airfield Operations Flight, received the award, which is based on advances in future learning efforts, for redeveloping Columbus Tower's $1,000,000 simulation system to maximize tower student training and produce pilots more effectively.

"I can see an immediate and direct impact with this training system," Airman Smith said. "After only a couple of days in the air traffic control simulator I have seen Airmen's skills directly improve."

They designed 32 simulation scenarios and rebuilt simulations from the ground up, said Lt. Col. Alexander Walford, 14th OSS commander. They leveraged a see-it and re-create-it capability enabling the ability to regenerate live traffic events for use in future training scenarios.

In keeping with the mission of the 14th Flying Training Wing, "Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen, Feed the Fight," the two airmen fulfilled the second part of the mission by arming trainers with the ability to replicate exact situations within minutes of occurrence; providing immediate playback and training. Additionally, they generated 6,450 different aircraft to increase controller familiarity with various performance characteristics.

Finally, they fed the fight by installing software simulation of actual AOR airfields providing familiarity of the airport environment prior to our ATC deployers departing home station.

AETC judges from several disciplines to include operations, communications, plans and programs, and information technology selected this innovative solution as the best technological advancement in furthering learning content, learning environment, and overall learning experience in accordance with concepts of the AETC White Paper, "On Learning: The Future of Air Force Education and Training."

"The herculean efforts of these Airmen directly contributed to increased student interactivity, enhanced performance, and saved valuable instructor resources...both at home and abroad," Colonel Walford said.