WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The 445th Maintenance Group conducted their 11th annual mega training session during both February unit training assemblies to provide its Airmen with the necessary computer based training that the Air Force requires, as well as the necessary training that their career fields require.
“Mega training is a maintenance group specific function that every year focuses on recurring training requirements,” said Chief Master Sgt. Michael West, maintenance squadron superintendent. “It affects 400 members who are among 26 individual work centers.”
“It’s the consolidation of time,” said Lt. Col. Jay Smeltzer, 445th Maintenance Group deputy commander. “Time is precious on UTAs. We have these annual requirements and we look for ways to get everybody together to knock out as much of the training as possible. Nobody wants to be sitting in front of a computer working on CBTs. It saves on time, and we do it together, so that’s a good thing.”
Furthermore, mega training also leaves the unit with less concern about who has and who has not completed annual training. With a limited number of computers, this can be a break in training when considering the unit has a sizeable amount of personnel. The mega training answers that problem.
“The idea is that the remaining 11 months, people are able to focus more on job qualification, hands-on training and things that aren’t done in mass groups,” said West.
“In Air Force Reserve Command, each squadron is challenged by leadership to find ways to get reservists doing their job more time during the weekend and less time sitting at a computer doing computer-based training, going to physicals, or fitness tests,” said West. “All these things take a lot of time so anytime we can free up their time and create more time in 11 months where they can learn their jobs, that’s the benefit from doing the mega training.”
According to Lt. Col. Smeltzer, it takes two to three months of planning, coordination and manpower. A syllabus is created and then there is coordination with the MXG training office as well as some help from the wing training office.
“We have pretty good success,” said Smeltzer. “We get the requirements out of the way. It frees them (Airmen) up to do AFSC [Air Force Specialty Code] training and to work on the jets. It pays off.”
Mega training this year was expanded to four days. It included briefings, computer-based training as well as hands-on training such as flightline driving and lift operations.