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Multi-Capable Airman Training
by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Thomas Karol
December 19,
2021
Growth in the U.S. Air Force can sometimes
be attributed to diversifying your skillset and branching out into
other career fields. That was the intention behind Air Force
leadership’s creating the Multi-Capable Airman training program.
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U.S. Air Force Airmen perform maintenance on a C-130 J
Hercules aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 2,
2021. Airmen from across Ramstein participated in the
Multi-Capable Airmen training where they learned skills,
which will diversify their knowledge of different job
skills. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Thomas Karol.)
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The program gives Airmen the
opportunity to gain new experience in a different career field with
the Air Force. The goal is to enable Airmen to be able to fill
multiple roles when needs arise.
“MCA is a great training program and a huge force
multiplier,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Spence Koepp, 86th
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. “If a large amount of
maintenance professionals are deployed or off somewhere else doing
their jobs we can call on these Airmen to fill those positions on
base.”
The MCA program is a way to empower Airmen already in
the Air Force to get the mission done.
“People are the
greatest resource we have available to us,” Koepp said. “One of the
biggest points of this program is to maximize the potential of the
people we already have. I think this is an extremely valuable course
and I am glad we are taking advantage of it.”
Personnel
participating in the MCA training learn valuable skills outside of
their normal career fields. Some believe the training is a great way
to get out and see how the rest of the Air Force works.
“I
think this training is a lot of fun and a great way to meet new
people,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Raul Espinosa, 86th
Logistics readiness Squadron fuels systems technician. “I like the
fact the Air Force is giving me the chance to broaden my horizons. I
have also made some new friends and had shared experiences with some
cool people.”
The MCA program helps bridge the gap for career
fields like maintenance that always has Airmen on the move. Airmen
who complete MCA are able to fill in as needed to ensure the mission
always gets done.
“We have a huge mission here at Ramstein
and if all of our people are elsewhere, we need competent Airmen
here working to continue the mission,” Koepp said. “We can’t be
everywhere at once and home or abroad we have to ensure we are
generating Airpower. The Airmen we are training here are going to be
our ace in the hole when the time comes.”
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U.S. Air Force Airmen inspect a tire belonging to a C-130 J Hercules aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Dec. 2, 2021. Airmen for across the base participated in the Multi-Capable Airmen training, which allows them to grow and learn new skills and make them available to perform those duties if the need arises.
(Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Thomas Karol.)
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Espinosa said he is
not one to let opportunities slip by him. Instead he wants to take
everything the Air Force offers him and help his team and the base
in as many ways as he can.
“I would recommend this course to
anyone who wants more out of their career,” Espinosa said. “It has
given me a whole new perspective and helped me feel like I am a more
valuable asset to my team. I know if something happens, I will not
be on the sidelines, but instead on the front lines helping out
where I am needed most.”
The future of Ramstein and its
operations are heavily dependent on quality Airmen and their ability
to adapt to an ever-changing environment. Koepp said this program is
crucial to the 86 MXG’s future and ensuring it can execute the
mission wherever it happens.
“If we want to stay on top, we
have to be able to adjust to the climate we are in,” Koepp said. “We
have some serious competition out there and they are not taking
breaks or rest on their laurels. We are the best Air Force in the
world for a reason and we are ensuring we will stay that way for the
foreseeable future. We are the top dogs and MCA and the Airmen who
participate in it will keep it that way.”
As of right now the
MCA training program is still in the process of starting up. Further
instructions will be released on how to become enrolled in the
course.
“We are in our Beta phase for the MCA program,” said
TSgt Redus Reed, 86 MXG Training Flight director of instruction. “As
of right now for Airmen were marked as fully qualified in their
career fields. They showed the aptitude and ambition to become
aircraft maintainers.”
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