New training center to open at USAFE base in Germany

  • Published
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  A new training center is opening at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, which will not only increase our combat readiness by providing critical training for U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen, but will save the Air Force money by eliminating expensive TDY travel to the west coast of the U.S.

Col. Dave Goldfein, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, will preside at an opening ceremony in March for the newly created European Transportation Training Center (ETTC). The ETTC is the second of its kind in the Air Force, with one other in the Pacific Air Forces. Lt. Gen. Robert Bishop Jr., USAFE vice commander, will be the guest speaker.

“The ETTC will provide accredited advanced technical training for vehicle maintenance and management career fields,” said Master Sgt. Joseph Oswald, 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance superintendent.

Sergeant Oswald said the center’s charter is to provide advanced training for all transportation career fields. “The opening of the center means every USAFE unit, no matter how far from Germany, will have access to advanced vehicle maintenance training,” he said.

The opening of the ETTC will also open more opportunities for vehicle maintainers to earn an advanced degree. ETTC officials are working to accredit all courses with the Community College of the Air Force. Final CCAF accreditation is expected soon.

"This new ETTC training facility at Spangdahlem is simply another avenue we've taken to streamline our processes across USAFE," said Brig. Gen. Jay Lindell, the USAFE director of logistics. "Our Airmen are not only working harder than ever, but they're finding new and innovative ways to build their training and expertise, yet still be cognizant of a limited budget -- and the ETTC is a culmination of that type of initiative."

The ETTC is similar to the PACAF Transportation Training Center (PTTC) at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sergeant Oswald said. He noted that both centers offer in-theater certified training to vehicle maintainers. However, the primary difference between the center at Spangdahlem is how funding for student attendance is provided.

“Funding for students traveling to Kadena to attend the PTTC comes from their home unit, while funding for students attending the ETTC will be programmed with ETTC funds,” said Master Sgt. Troy Saunders, 52nd LRS ETTC superintendent. “As such, the availability of central travel funding will broaden accessibility to the training center.”

“The school will initially produce 180 graduates per year through in-resident attendance and mobile training teams,” said Sergeant Oswald. “The ETTC provides greater capability and expanded training opportunities for command technicians.” In contrast, according to the USAFE Command Vehicles Branch, only 38 USAFE vehicle maintainers graduated in 2005 from similar Air Education and Training Command courses in the United States.

Air Force vehicle maintainers normally obtain advanced proficiency training through AETC’s schoolhouse in Port Hueneme, Calif. With the advent of the ETTC, USAFE can train substantially more mechanics at a significantly reduced cost than if the same number of mechanics attended similar courses at Port Hueneme.

General Lindell noted that it potentially costs the command $720,000 to send the 180 projected students of the ETTC to Port Hueneme to obtain the same training. "Instead, by sending the students to the ETTC at Spangdahlem, we're able to reduce the costs to approximately $270,000 -- and use the nearly $450,000 savings in potential travel and per diem expenses on other worthwhile projects like this. In short, the ETTC clearly reduces USAFE's fiscal costs for training."

“The ETTC is significant in terms of flexibility,” said Senior Master Sgt. James Turner, USAFE Command Vehicles Fleet manager. “With the ETTC, we can change our curriculum to adapt to emerging technology incorporated every year in newly manufactured vehicles.”

Sergeant Oswald said the ETTC will begin with advanced vehicle maintenance courses ranging from diesel engine rebuild to steering, suspension and brakes. “We’re working closely with the Community College of the Air Force to modernize the curriculum and focus on advanced technical training based on feedback we’ve received from Air Staff and U.S. Central Command Air Forces,” he said.

The school staff consists of prior career field instructors who have been awarded their CCAF in Military Technical Instruction.