AETC team wins 2005 CSAF Team Excellence Award Published Aug. 25, 2006 By Capt. Gideon McClure Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AETCNS) -- An Air Education and Training Command team from the 381st Training Group at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was recognized by Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff, Sept. 29 for winning the 2005 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award. The CSTEA recognizes outstanding team performance that promotes systematic approaches, enhances mission capability, improves operational performance and ensures sustained results while maximizing efficiency. The award is also a way to share best practices within the Air Force. One of this year's winners, the Operational Procedure Emulator for Academic Training team from AETC, developed a personal emulator for Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile operators that leveraged technology into the classroom to enhance the technical training mission. This web-based, interactive trainer provides students with instant, hands-on instruction. The inclusion of OPEAT to augment the traditional curriculum has resulted in a 42 percent improvement in comprehension and 20 percent increase in proficiency by the students. "The biggest improvement is that students are taking a proactive role in the training environment," said then Capt. Ryan Surroz, 381st OPEAT team member. "Instead of passively sitting in their chairs and watching a slideshow, OPEAT allows students to interact with the instructor and other students practicing the procedures and concepts they are concurrently learning. Not only does this keep them awake, but it also gets them excited to learn about ICBMs." The OPEAT team was one of two teams submitted by AETC to compete at the Air Force level. The Transformational Population Health team from the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB, Texas, was also nominated. Of the 15 teams sent to compete for the CSTEA, the 381st TRG OPEAT team was one of only five winners. "We've been training missile officers for 45 years and this effort proves you can always do better," said Col. Michael J. Morgan, 381st TRG commander. "With a little imagination and a willingness to go above and beyond, good ideas can make a huge difference." The team members from the 381st TRG are: Lt. Col. Wayne R. Monteith, Capt. Ryan Surroz, Capt. John Bales, Capt. Karl Basham, Capt. Casimiro Benavidez III, Capt. Joel Bius, Capt. Jimmy Brown, Capt. Jared Nelson, Capt. Michael Maciejewski, Capt. John Sill, Capt. Eric Talcott and Linda Hill. Additionally, three members from Keesler AFB, Miss., were part of the winning AETC team--Alex Aranda, John Barnes and Roger Toney.