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Night Vision Goggle Academic Instructor training debuts at Randolph

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 12th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Randolph sets a new training milestone Monday as it begins its first Air Force Night Vision Goggle Academic Instructor course.

The course, which has been conducted under the Air Force Research Laboratory in Mesa, Ariz., since the early 1990's, was officially transferred to the Air Education and Training Command and subsequently Randolph last year.

Since its transfer, a specialized team of physiologists and instructor pilots, including some already stationed at Randolph and others reassigned to the base just for the program's implementation, have been working around the clock to prepare the course curriculum, get supplies, set up the specialized classrooms, and preform administrative duties.

"The transition of this course to Randolph was actually several years in the making," said Maj. Scott "Doc" Holliday, 12th Aeromedical Dental Squadron Aerospace Physiology flight commander. "It was all a matter of getting the right people in the right place at the right time to make sure this course is exceptional for the first class to undergo instruction."

The course cadre, which consists of three experienced aerospace physiologists and five rated instructors, provides significant operational NVG flying experience dating back to the early 1980s, when flying with NVGs was a novelty.

The one-and-a-half-day course is aimed at teaching Airmen already familiar with NVGs more advanced instruction that they can take with them to their respective units and train others.

In other words, warfighters who utilize NVGs are trained by graduates of the course, said Capt. Tom "Vito" Massa, Air Force NVG Academic Instructor Course director.

The course consists of both academic and performance-based skills training, and includes topics such as vision, technology, focus and adjustment, night environment misperceptions and other operational issues.

The course concludes with a performance skills portion where students use their new skills and apply the lessons in an NVG-friendly environment referred to as the "night lab."

Major Holliday said the NVG cadre is planning to offer two courses a month with 10 students in each class.

"At this point we have eight people scheduled to attend Monday and more on the list for the next one," he said. "But demand is really going to pick up once word gets around the Air Force that this training is now at Randolph. This is such a valuable course for the operational NVG community; night vision devices allow our warfighters to illuminate and exploit the night."

Those Airmen with NVG experience who are interested in signing up for the class can call the Aerospace Physiology Training Flight or Captain Massa at DSN 487-4931 for more information.