436th Training Squadron celebrates centennial

Photo By Staff Sgt. Alexander Guerrero | Courtesy photo  

ABILENE, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

08.18.2017

Story by Senior Airman Alexander Guerrero 

7th Bomb Wing

What does a bronco, a cowboy and an orange moon have to do with Pearl Harbor? Would you like a hint? It pertains to one of the oldest Air Force squadrons established long before the service was even born. The 436th Training Squadron has been involved in nearly every conflict since World War I. Their ability to capture and bring back lessons learned from combat to prepare the war fighter for tomorrow’s fight has been a part of their mission set since their inception.

Organized on August 18, 1917, the squadron was originally named the 88th Aero Squadron. Soon after standing up, this group of 149 men hailing from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas departed for France at the height of World War I to aid in the war effort. Their mission was to keep the command informed of activity behind enemy lines. While in France, the 88th flew 1,028 observation and reconnaissance missions. They completed 557 combat missions downing four enemy aircraft. After the hostilities ended, the men of the 88th were called upon to leverage their experience to begin training at the Seventh Corps Liaison School.

During this time, the 88th Aero Squadron Commander served as both the school’s Commandant and Senior Instructor. Tapping into their fresh experience from World War I, the 88th employed the same pilots that supported the ground forces during the war to teach 505 men from multiple divisions in the art of artillery and infantry.

“Throughout the last 100 years, training has always been woven into the fabric of who we are as a squadron”, says Lt. Col. Brian Servant, 436th TS commander.

However, as the U.S. entered into World War II, the 88th Aero Squadron would be called upon again to support in a different way.

In 1940, the 88th began training in the B-17 resulting in the squadron being renamed the 436th Bomb Squadron. The 436th BS received notoriety by taking on diverse missions during World War II.

“One of the most interesting parts of our squadron’s history, I think, was our involvement with Pearl Harbor,” said Airman 1st Class Nije Hightower, 436th TS broadcast journalist. “A group of B-17s were supposed to be flying into Pearl Harbor from Hamilton Field, California but were delayed. Unfortunately, a group of Japanese attack aircraft flew in around the same time and were mistaken for the B-17s by radar operators. The 436th B-17s ended up flying into Pearl Harbor at the height of the attack and many were damaged or destroyed.”

During Pearl Harbor the 436th’s bombers ran patrol missions in the area allowing other aircraft safe passage to Australia.

“One of the most remarkable attributes I’ve seen throughout our squadron’s history is how we continue to find creative ways to make the mission happen,” says SMSgt Terri Brooks, 436th TS Superintendent. “During World War II, the 436th took on various missions outside their normal scope. Not only did we conduct bombing raids but also photographic and air drop missions.”
The 436th BS was deactivated in 1963. However, it was reactivated in 1986 as the 436th Strategic Training Squadron (STS) at Carswell AFB, Texas to support training and creating multimedia-training productions for Strategic Air Command. In 1992, the 436th STS was realigned under Air Combat Command as the 436th TS and a year later was moved to Dyess AFB, Texas. Following the move to ACC, the 436th TS looked to take advantage of new technologies to better support training in and out of the classroom.

Today, the 436th TS continues its training legacy using its two primary mission sets utilizing state of the art technology. The first is our brick and mortar classroom academics.

“Technology has made some changes as to how we conduct instruction,” said Johnny Lott, 436th TS, Director of Education and Training. “With the use of ADLS, Blackboard©, the Defense Collaboration Services (DCS) or combinations of those, what was once traditionally instructor led instruction can now be supplemented with eLearning creating a blended learning environment. There are many applications and advantages to this design because the learner can progress independently of everyone else and at their convenience. Also, the cost saving in the form of temporary duty dollars expended to send someone to training can be reduced or eliminated altogether.”

The 436th TS teaches 15 courses, (12 Community College of the Air Force accredited) to over 1,400 students annually. The Aviation Resource Management course prepares Airmen to support flying operations related to all platforms across the Air Force. The three safety courses cover a range of operations from Occupational Safety requirements to weapons loading. The Aircraft Mishap Investigation course prepares Airmen to effectively prevent and manage aircraft mishaps. Additionally, they provide Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) training teaching Airmen, sister service members, and coalition partner nations how to operate such critical equipment like the Combat Survivor Evader Locator radio which is carried by nearly all military aircraft. The AFE team also provides education on how to manage an aircrew contamination control area for all aircrew regardless of branch of service and supports Joint and NATO exercises. Finally, we teach students how to develop courses as well as how to instruct them during the Instructional Systems Design and Classroom Instructor Courses.

Instructors at the 436th TS are subject matter experts from more than six Air Force specialties charged with honing skills for the modern day warfighter. In fact, the 436th TS is the sole training source for certain specialized fields. The Aircrew Flight Equipment career field provides the only advanced training in the Department of Defense for all five courses. Three of the 436th TS courses are the sole training source Air Force wide, while two of the courses are the sole training source for Air Combat Command.

The second primary mission set is to capture, develop and provide professional instructional video. This capability allows organizations to educate the force not only at this time but also for years to come. The 436th TS’s instructional productions have ranged from motorcycle safety, egressing aircraft, pre-flights and airborne aerial refueling to just name a few. “Time is a precious commodity. Therefore, our video products assist and support people in the training environment to meet their goals by freeing up valuable time they would have spent in person, covering reoccurring type training issues. Many of our products are used as a supplement to person-to-person training; thus, enabling Air Force instructors to focus on the things that matter the most, preparing our Airmen for tomorrow’s battle. Given the continuous advancements in the multimedia/audiovisual industry, we are able to provide solutions to most, if not all training needs, in a timely, professional, and extremely cost effective manner,” says Justin Fairley, Director of Instructional Productions. The latest enhancement to their mission set is their classified production capability that allows communities that were previously limited in training platforms even greater options without compromising security.
“The 436th Training Squadron’s reach and positive affect across the Air Force and DoD is incredibly impressive and I couldn’t be more proud to serve alongside such an exceptional group of Airmen, who are actively adding to such a rich history that dates back to the 88th Aero Squadron,” says Servant.

So when you see the 436th TS patch, take a moment to reflect on the bright orange moon, the spirit of the brave cowboy, the power of the bucking Bronco and the proud legacy of the original men of the 88th Aero Squadron. Serving from World War I to the Global War on Terror, the 436th TS is still capturing lessons and passing them to prepare today’s warfighter for tomorrow.

• Date Taken: 08.18.2017
• Date Posted: 08.18.2017 12:28
• Story ID: 245258
• Location: ABILENE, TEXAS, US