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ACS launches new radar training initiative

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
1/29/2009 --  LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Eight Airmen from different major commands are participating in a 11-week training program here hosted by the 607th Air Control Squadron to teach them a vital part of their career.

The program provides hands-on training for the TPS-75 Air Control and Warning long-range radar used by control and reporting centers in Air Combat Command, the Air National Guard and U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

Currently six such radars are in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility providing radar pictures and air surveillance for air battle managers supporting combat operations.

This is the only radar maintenance school for the TPS-75, a mobile, tactical radar system capable of providing radar azimuth, range, height and identification friend or foe information for up to a 240-nautical-mile area.

"There was no such training for the TPS-75 radar out in the combat air force, and a lot of the technicians were taught with limited knowledge during on the job training within the unit," said Lt. Col. John Grivakis, 607th ACS commander.

"So ACC decided to get all the smart people here and get better training for them because the radars are used all over the world."

The TPS-75 experience corps is not as strong as it was 10 years ago due to career field mergers and cut backs.

"This is how you build it back up," said Master Sgt. James Cozad, 607th ACS NCO-in-charge of radar maintenance. "Giving them courses like this."

The training is important in that it teaches students how to properly maintain the radar. This also saves the Air Force money in the long run.

"In the past, shops would get technicians fresh from technical training school who get assigned to a unit. When the radar breaks, they don't have the background or confidence to work on it," said Steven Smith, Computer Science Corporation functional analysis and co-developer of the
training program. "That's not good. This program will give them the confidence to work on, do the alignments and troubleshoot the radar."

Retired subject-matter experts conduct the training and also help build the curriculum that covers radar set up, tear down and troubleshooting. This course is unique in that students get hands-on training they don't provide at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Mr. Smith said.

"Courses such as intense theory and operation, alignment and curriculum will help students troubleshoot when they get to the field," he said. "The technical training school at Keesler provides only three-level training, which is basic familiarization. The radar is pretty complicated."

Based on 1960s technology, the TPS-75 is not only hard to maintain but difficult to get parts for as well. But it performs well despite the fact that aircraft are smaller and made with composite materials, Mr. Smith said. For the time being he predicts the radar will be around for at least 10 more years and it is in the Air Force's best interest to get technicians as much training as possible.

Bill Kilpatric is a course lead instructor who has worked with the TPS-75 radar since 1992. He believes the Air Force community needs trained people on these radars as it's the key to keeping supply discipline.

"If the technicians don't know what's broke or how to fix it, then they are going to consume more supply than needed," said the instructor. "We don't have good supply discipline as far as replacing parts correctly because some technicians don't know how to work or maintain the radar properly."

With a class limited to 10 students, the initial cadre of eight will afford students more one-on-one time with instructors.

"Each block of instruction is broken down so the maximum amount of parts can be taken off the radar, allowing students actual hands-on to test each part and put it back in," Sergeant Cozad said.

A unique feature of the course is flexible scheduling which allows technicians to attend certain portions of the class when needed.

"If a technician's home unit feels they need only a portion of the course, they can come in during that block of instruction instead of sitting through the whole class," Sergeant Cozad said.

The 607th ACS commander wholeheartedly supports the new training initiative here and hopes to host more in the future.

"As the only formal training unit for the control and reporting center, we are trying to expand the scope of instruction on the operations side as well as on maintenance," Colonel Grivakis said. "We are really excited because this is the first time a comprehensive maintenance course for the operational air control squadrons is being offered."