76th Maintenance Wing saves thousands by keeping courses in-house Published Aug. 6, 2010 By 1st Lt. Jessica Chapa Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 76th Maintenance Wing recently completed three cycles of training that educated employees who must train others, but may not be comfortable or have the experience required. "It sounds a bit convoluted, but what we're doing is training the trainers," said Brandon Bussell, a program manager and instructor with the 76th Maintenance Wing. The main objective in this course is to teach students how to communicate effectively and present information in an organized fashion. During the two-week course, future trainers learn the basics of classroom teaching. Lessons in communication skills, human relations, learning processes, objectives, instructional aids, lesson planning and testing are designed to help them conduct formal training in their own units. Additionally, Mr. Bussell says new trainers develop their sense of presentation while they face a common fear: public speaking. While four presentations are required in this course, students are eased into the process. Beginning with a five minute impromptu lesson of the instructor's choice, students quickly use their newfound teaching fundamentals and throughout the course present a lecture, lead a group discussion and guide classmates in a 30 minute demonstration or hands-on-task. The course instructor allows students to choose each of the last three topics. "This course provides such a wide array of techniques, tips and tricks to achieving the best learning experience for the students and the instructor," said Isabel Estrada, 76th Maintenance Support Group program analyst. "It helped us find the technique that best suited us." Even previous instructors like Janie Tisdale, 72nd Force Support Squadron instructional system specialist, find this course to be an advantage in their formal teaching preparation. "With the small group setting, it was like student teaching again," she said. "I was able to build on my strengths as a trainer and find out weaknesses had developed through the years. The support from my classmates was invaluable." Workload surges and lack of trained personnel within the 76th MXW led to the need of 30 new instructors. "For example, E-3 technicians are involved with their block 40/45 modifications. While many receiving training at Boeing in Seattle are coming back to do more real world training, they are conducting classroom training as well. We are using this course to teach someone who isn't necessarily a professional communicator the skills they need to share their knowledge learned here at Tinker," said Mr. Bussell. Since all instructors must complete one of a couple Air Force recognized instructor classes, program management began looking at instructor training locations. Air Education Training Command provides a free course and was the first option previewed. However, 76th MXW was out-of-cycle with the AETC training schedule. Although AETC was willing to alter their schedule, only 10 students are able to train at one time, and it would have taken two years to train 30 new instructors. Another alternative was a route taken in the past. The Federal Aviation Administration would have been able to provide the needed instructor training within the wing's timeframe, but at a cost of $2,358 per student. Although that was an option, the search continued for a long-term solution and found one at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, the command center for training. A Hill AFB instructor was able to offer in-house training to two Tinker instructors and the only charge to our base was the instructor's TDY costs. That cost turned out be less than sending our two instructors to Hill. This allowed newly trained Tinker instructors to conduct standardized training throughout base. Formal classroom training can by conducted with minimal notice, as long as the trainers are able to reserve a classroom. Classes remain small at 10, but require a minimum of five students. Greg Carman, 76th MXW technical training contract quality assurance evaluator, gained a better understanding and appreciation for the extensive preparation that goes into formal classroom training. "There is a tremendous amount of preparation that goes into even the simplest, shortest presentations," he said. "The skills I've learned have helped me better evaluate the contract training services I oversee as an evaluator." Units needing trained instructors should have members register for formal classroom training through the unit training office.