Center provides varied training for Tinker members

Published April 30, 2009
By Howdy Stout
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- "This is our own stealth aircraft," he says, pointing to the all-white jet trainer.

"There's no other like it in the Air Force," he continues. "It can be a KC-135 tanker one day and a B-1 the next."

All airplanes have similarities, such as wings, undercarriage and flaps, explains Jefferson Tarver, director of the Tinker Technology Center. An expert could see it is a T-38 Talon. But to the novice, it can be whatever the instructor wants the student to imagine it to be. Surrounded by chairs, it looks out of place inside the large classroom.

"We use the aircraft for familiarization," Mr. Tarver says. "We use it for whatever we need to." Realistic, hands-on training is the name of the game at Tinker Technology Center. Whether it is learning how to jack-up an aircraft, hand-form sheet metal or prepare a PowerPoint computer presentation, the center teaches it all. And they teach it with the real world in mind.

"What they learn in the classroom, it's exactly what they're going to use in the shop," Mr. Tarver said. "We try to relate things to what they're doing in the shop."

Part of the Mid-Del Technology Center, the Tinker Technology Center began offering training courses to government workers at Tinker in 1969 before opening classrooms on-base in 1981. The center offers a range of classes, covering subjects as diverse as aircraft electrical systems to CPR and computer classes.

In addition, Mr. Tarver said, the Tinker Technology center can also develop courses to meet a unit or department's particular need. The 76th Engines shop was in need of three thermal spray courses in order to qualify their technicians. They were in a time crunch for the first course, HVOF. They had 40 technicians that needed this training ASAP.

"We developed this course right on the spot," Mr. Tarver said. "We can develop anything they need." Our curriculum department is very proud of the HVOF course that came from this tasking.

The Tinker Technology Center is currently developing three new classes on airframes, powerplants and special fasteners. These students could go from knowing next to nothing about aircraft maintenance to getting college credits in as little as eight to ten weeks.

"They could walk out of here trained in a Test Prep Course to take the A and P (Airframe and Powerplant) test," he said.

Units save money by training their workers at Tinker rather than sending them to remote locations. Even the computer training is done with the same programs and formats workers will experience in the Tinker workplace. And training can also be done on-site. Tinker Technology Center Instructor can and have taught classes in the shop,

Students learn more than just classroom theory at the TTC. They apply that theory in a practical environment, such as using actual aircraft electrical wiring diagrams to troubleshoot a problem or learning to wire-lock nuts in hard-to-reach areas of a jet engine.

In fact, Mr. Tarver added, much of the hands-on work is developed by the instructors..

"These guys have 20 to 30 years of real world experience," he said.

And Mr. Tarver keeps them busy. Each instructor teaches at least seven courses and those involved in aircraft maintenance are dual certified, meaning they are qualified to work and teach to military and commercial standards. Mr. Tarver says the instructors are committed to passing on their experience to students.

That, too, is what keeps Mr. Tarver going. A retired aircraft repair specialist with 24 years of Air Force experience, Mr. Tarver worked his way up to management level in 654th CLSS supervisor level at the ALC's B-1 maintenance program before becoming an instructor at the Tinker Technology Center. Director at the Tinker campus since 2007, he says most of the workers here are working for more than just money.

"A lot of people work here because they know why they're doing it," he explained. "It's not just a job. You're serving your country."
(This is the first in a series of stories on the classes available at the TTC)