Air Force links preparedness, training initiatives

Air Force officials are touting the benefits of rigorous training as a means of yielding the branch’s desired preparedness and force lethality results.

Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew P. Donovan recently visited

Sheppard AFB to learn more about the manner in which the Air Force’s largest and most diverse technical and undergraduate pilot training base is employing technology to train Airmen for the future.

“With the largest technical training wing in the Air Force, you train those that will build, move and fix our Air Force so we can fight,” Donovan said in addressing Sheppard AFB personnel. “These Airmen will be key to how we face future threats to our national security.”

During his visit, Donovan experienced how Airmen use HoloLens technology in aircraft maintenance and civil engineering courses, a virtual reality simulator to gauge electrical systems apprentice course students’ fear of heights before training, and mixed reality platforms at the 80th FTW’s Innovation Lab for student pilots to hone skills in a virtual world.

“We’ve put into place some increased production,” Donovan, who began his Air Force career in 1977 when he enlisted and eventually became a command pilot, said. “You’ll probably notice that here at Sheppard Air Force Base. We’re also looking forward to a new T-X trainer, which will replace the T-38, and that will provide the larger production capability. We’re also looking at retention incentives to try to get the pilots we have trained to stay with the Air Force.”