AEDC hosts workshop on new Air Force firefighting training requirements

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) hosted a workshop Nov. 9 and 10 to brief Air Force Materiel Command fire training officers on upcoming changes to the Air Force's new firefighter Annual Training Program (ATP) and Automated Civil Engineer System - Fire Department (ACES-FD) scheduled to debut in January 2010.

"Our guests combined their knowledge and efforts to brief all of us on this new training plan and the new ACES fire department configuration," said AEDC Assistant Chief of Training Jeff Thames, who initiated the conference. "This conference also served to demonstrate the intended interoperability between the two."

Thames said those attending the two-day workshop included fire training officers from Edwards AFB, Calif., Eglin AFB, Fla., Hanscom AFB, Mass., Hill AFB, Utah, Tinker AFB, Okla., and Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Eric Johnson, the assistant chief of training at Edwards AFB, said, "We're here to get more training and familiarization with the new training program that's coming out next January. We're here to learn how the program is going to be implemented and what all the requirements are going to be. Then there are also going to be significant changes to the ACES program, which is how we manage our program, how we track the amount of training, the subjects that are covered and the delivery of that training."

Phil Remley, a fire inspector at Edwards AFB, said the conference had already paid dividends before the first day was over.

Senior Master Sgt. John Smith, the Fire Emergency Services Program manager representing Headquarters Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency, Tyndall AFB, Fla., presented the program outlining the upcoming changes to the AFMC fire training officers.

"We're the corporate fire emergency services headquarters that is developing the program and responsible for the implementation," he said. "Mr. Thames wanted us to provide a little more insight on the program before it hit and asked us to come up and give a little briefing."

Smith said it was his goal to clear up any misunderstandings and misconceptions, but he emphasized that he had another reason for giving the briefing.

"It's a practice session for me before I get in front of the rest of the Air Force and present it," he said. "[With these changes,] we're getting back to the basics."

He emphasized a shift away from the "quantity of training" to more quality training.

"It's more focused on the individual level, not just the department level - it will be more focused on the individual, so the firefighters remain proficient in their skill set."

Smith also explained why a briefing like the one at AEDC is helpful.

"With anything new, there's resistance and there's angst," he said. "But being able to come up and do these kinds of informal briefings where you just say 'hey, this is what it is and tell me what you don't understand, tell me what doesn't make sense.

"Then as you get through the process and you communicate with one another, you can see the light bulbs go off," he continued. "And it's not only for them that the light bulb is going off."

Sergeant Smith acknowledged those attending the briefing had some legitimate questions and that the workshop was productive. He said Thames' proactive approach to initiating and working to set up the conference was a good idea.

"We were happy that he did it because it gave us the opportunity to practice what we're about to start preaching," Smith said, "but it also aids the AFMC guys to get ahead of the program with the largest civilian department that we have in the Air Force.

"They're going to have the most work when they implement this initially, so, getting them to understand and getting them to accept the new program will pay huge dividends later on."

Art Uhlig, the ACES Fire Department program manager at Headquarters 754th Electronic Systems Group at Gunter Annex in Montgomery, Ala., said it is important to get ahead of any upcoming changes to training for the Air Force.

"Anytime you can get users of a new system or process together in advance of implementation, it greatly improves the overall success during the transition," he said. "The interaction between the Air Force program managers, the software application developers, and the fire department training managers will help all parties understand the issues and concerns, and will help in the implementation of the Tier training program Air Force wide."