New C-5 crew chiefs take flight

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Marching in tight formation with uniforms squared away following morning inspections, the Airmen of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 3, are a common sight around Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Hundreds of Airmen, fresh from Basic Military Training, have passed through the halls of the squadron schoolhouse, on their way to becoming are the self-styled "jack-of-all-trades of the C-5." But who are these soon-to-be crew chiefs?

Two such Airmen are Airman 1st Class Matthew Bowen and Airman 1st Class Brittany Sims. These recent graduates of Det. 3 overcame the rigors of their technical training and are on their way to their first duty station.

The Airmen of Det. 3 accomplish their training through a mixture of classroom learning and hands-on assignments. An emphasis is placed on instilling leadership skills, since crew chiefs are generally expected to lead from the front.

"Crew chiefs serve as team captains on the flightline," said Bowen.

This attitude was taught not only in the schoolhouse, but in Det. 3, where Airmen are pushed to exemplify the high standards of personal conduct required during the training phase.

"Coming from BMT, I was scared to do the wrong thing, to be disappointed in myself," said Sims. "It's expected that the Airmen here do what's right, even when no one is watching."

High expectations and demanding training are not the only challenges these Airmen face on a daily basis. Going through the course, Airmen, like Sims, are forced to face and push past personal fears in favor of the overall mission.

"I had to face my fear of heights every time I went up on a crane," said Sims.

The Airmen's success is not only a product of their individual determination, but also of their instructors and military training leaders, who are responsible for overseeing the operations at the schoolhouse and detachment.

"This class was my best to date; they excelled in the classroom and on the softball field, where many of them participated on the squadron team," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Mattingly, 373 TRS C-5 airplane general instructor. "They're a smart group of individuals who should have no trouble later in their career."

And like so many new crew chiefs before them, the most recent graduating class is headed off to prove Bueshi correct. For the Airmen, it will be a bittersweet occasion.

"When I look back on my experiences here, I'm happy for my accomplishment, but nervous for the road ahead," said Bowen. "I'll never to forget the lessons I've learned here."