Air Force Reserve Aerial Port Contingency Training

This research paper attempts to present the most effective training approaches for reserve aerial port contingency training based upon the combined analysis of five Air Force Reserve aerial port squadrons. Focus of the analysis centered on how these units prepare their members in learning and maintaining proficiency for carrying out the 'Global Reach' mission by utilizing existing resources and the limited amount of time to do so. The 26th, 46th, 53rd, 76th, and 92nd aerial port squadrons were studied. These units were chosen to be representative of the types of units (associate, unit equipped, co-located, and geographically separated) seen throughout the Air Force Reserve. A variety of activities were used to evaluate these units, including squadron commander and unit member surveys, personal interviews, and site visits during unit training assemblies. Information gathered included: unit size, wartime tasking, demographics, physical make-up, and types of training approaches utilized. Particular emphasis was placed upon unit innovation in carrying out this training. As a result, three categories, Joint Training, In-House proficiency exercises, and Modeling, emerged and appear to be the most relevant in best utilizing the limited unit training time available and to provide proficiency in contingency tasks.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH is the author of 'Air Force Reserve Aerial Port Contingency Training' with ISBN 9781423572978 and ISBN 1423572971.