New class gets Keesler Airmen back on training course, student pipeline flowing again Published Sept. 13, 2006 By John Ingle 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) -- Sheppard recently began a new electronic principles course to train displaced Airmen from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Master Sgt. Rosa Marlin, 365th Training Squadron avionics test equipment flight chief, said it usually takes six months to a year for a new course to begin. It took Sheppard two weeks to have the course ready for instruction. "I'm impressed by everybody across the board," the 20-year veteran said of the efforts to get the class going. "It was a challenge and (the instructors) took it on and love it. It's happening." With the pipeline at a virtual standstill for projected Keesler Airmen, the Air Force needed a way to continue their training. Since Sheppard is a follow-on assignment for electronic principles Airmen from Keesler, it seemed like a natural fit to have the training stand up here to get the student pipeline moving again. After Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast region Aug. 29, thousands of Keesler Airmen were displaced. About 1,000 were evacuated to Sheppard. Now, most of the Airmen have either returned to Keesler or to their Reserve or Air National Guard base. "When the storm hit, (training courses) were shut off and put on hold," Sergeant Marlin said. About 130 displaced Airmen began the 27-day theory-based course recently. The Airmen were in various stages of their training. James Angell, 365th TRS training support flight chief, said some students were far enough into a block of training they were able to advance to the next block. "It was a good buy for the Air Force," Mr. Angell said of the new course here. Airmen who have completed basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, have also been sent to Sheppard to begin the course. More than 100 Airmen arrived Sept. 26 from the South Texas base and began training Oct. 3. More Airmen will arrive on a weekly basis. Sergeant Marlin said the seven-block course is taught on a day shift and mid shift with 40 Airmen on each shift. Staff Sgt. James Barnett, a first-time instructor at the 365th TRS, said the Airmen were ready to get back into the classroom. But, he said it was almost like he was going back to school. "It kind of turns us all into students because we have to go home at night and learn how to teach it," he said. To prepare for the course, Sergeant Barnett said he used Tech. Sgt. Michael Wheeler, a three-year veteran instructor at the squadron, as a student. The two interacted as an instructor and student would to prepare the staff sergeant for his first class. Airman 1st Class Robert Davis, a native of Meridian, Miss., assigned to the 186th Airborne Refueling Wing at Key Field also in Meridian, said he and his fellow Airmen-in-training are glad to be able to begin their training again. "When we were at (student awaiting training) status, we pretty much did details," he said. "We felt idle. We were ready to get back to training." Now in block three of electronic principles training, Airman Davis said he had to refresh a little after not looking at materials for about a month. But, he said it's coming back to him. "I passed my block two test, so that's a good thing," he said. "Evidently I'm not too rusty." Sergeant Marlin said she doesn't know what the future holds for the course here. It could return to Keesler once the base is able to return to normal operations. But for now, she said she and members of the 365th TRS are dedicated to providing the training needed to keep the pipeline going.