News

Airman, hydraulics section gain experience, skills with seasoning training program

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  When you get your first real job, and it's in an area your test scores show you're not really good at, it really helps when you can dedicate the time to learn.

Reservists in designated career fields, like Senior Airman Joshua Walden, a hydraulics technician, are given that extra time to learn their new craft through the Air Force Reserve's seasoning training program.

Currently just over 100 days into a 270 day program, Walden is quickly picking up the skills his military entrance exam said were below par.

"I scored really well in all the areas except mechanics and I was like I think 'I want to get better at this,'" said Walden, a 20-year-old college student.

Getting better "at this," is something many Airmen in the Air Force Reserve are doing more quickly through the STP, a program that didn't exist when Master Sgt. Valerie Montano started out in the hydraulics career field.

"I've found (the STP) to be just great," said Montano, 446th MXS hydraulics section chief and air reserve technician. "The young kids come in now and they go straight into it and they learn and they're right on top of everything. I was a traditional Reservist way back when and you came in and you did tech school and went home, then came in for your two days and went home. It was really difficult to pick up the job."

With retirements depleting this already small section of maintenance, being able to train up new Airmen quickly is critical.

"We have five traditional Reservists and two ARTs," said Montano. "Through retirements and stuff, we've lost a couple of people, so we're kind of short right now. Senior Airman Walden is in the new crop of hydraulic specialist."
Walden, who attends Seattle University studying sports and exercise science, is gaining more than mechanical skills, he's also gaining work experience.

"This is my first real job and I'm learning the work ethic and the team work you have to do when working with other people and the coordination you have to have to get the mission done," said Walden.

That mission includes conducting inspections during a C-17 home station check, as well as the backshop work of inspecting and repairing a large variety of components from the C-17, such as the winches, hoses, and brake assemblies.

"On a Reserve UTA we keep pretty busy with training like computer training, CPR training and all those extra courses they have to do," said Montano. "We do try to get them out on the aircraft at least once on a UTA, but not as much as we'd like. That's why STP is so important to our mission accomplishment."

While Walden has been here going through on-the-job training, he has learned so much and continues to become more confident and proficient in any task he is assigned, said Montano.

"This program has definitely given the traditional Reservist a real feel for their new jobs and for the day-to-day Air Force mission, that they would not be able to see otherwise," Montano added.