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Passing the Baton

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Holly Carlisle
  • 317th Airlift Squadron
CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. --  Every month we are saying good-bye to a fellow reservist who may have taught us the ropes and everything we could ever want to know about our job. We ponder how anyone is ever going to fill those big shoes, and if the next generation is ready to try. The key to success is their training.

Senior Master Sgt. Dean Carter, an instructor loadmaster for the 317th Airlift Squadron, does not seem to be worried about those following him, even though he has no plans for retirement just yet. Sergeant Carter has 26 years in the Air Force and is excited to be instructing new loadmaster Staff Sgt. Gus Morse.

"He is the next generation of the 317th. That is kind of cool - he will be carrying this for the next 15-20 years."

During a recent training flight, Sergeant Morse was able to put his learning from the school house into practice by giving passengers a safety briefing, ensuring they were manifested correctly, brushing up on aircraft forms, assisting the flying crew chief with refueling the aircraft and working with U.S. Customs when the airplane returned to homestation.

"You just can't simulate certain things in a classroom," said Sergeant Carter. Sergeant Morse, who just completed loadmaster training one month ago, is excited about seeing the end result of the missions.

"My job is dealing with what the C-17 was made to do, move cargo and people." He has come full circle seeing the amount of work it takes to get the aircraft ready for a mission and how important his old job of being a crew chief is to achieve the overall mission success - something he did not get to see first hand before.

Newcomers weren't the only ones requiring training. While Sergeant Morse was getting his upgrade training, some of the pilots were taking care of some of their currency requirements. Capts. Rod Grice and Dave Tyler were able to get their overseas currencies knocked out for semi-annual training along with a take-offs and landings during this mission.

Pilots can have minimum of 36 individual training events as an airland pilot, with that number doubling for proficiency requirements. The off-station trainers help meet some of these requirement such as overseas currencies and several other qualifications that can not be accomplished without leaving Charleston. "Off-station trainers are essential and critical to keeping two-thirds of the squadron current, especially with the rigors of our reservist's civilian employers," said Lt. Col. Richard Kemble, commander of the 300th AS.

Off-stations aren't the only missions fliers can qualify on. Along with OEF/OIF missions, the 315th executes the Air Force Reserve Command mandated and validated training program consisting of 3,600 flight hours equating to nearly $63 million dollars, according to Lt. Col. John Russi, the chief of current operations for the 315th. "The 315th uses these hours to ensure all of its pilots, loadmasters and aero medical evacuation personnel keep current. The reason for currency is to make sure all crewmembers are mission capable to perform their duties if ever activated," explains Colonel Russi.

So this UTA weekend take a look around your shop. Who will be filling your shoes once you are gone? If you are the new reservist, are you ready for the challenge? Are they really ready? For those who are not, help get them the needed training and pass your knowledge and wisdom along because you are looking at the next generation.