Port Dawg University produces mission ready Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Jimenez
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  When new Airmen arrive at the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron following technical school, they are enrolled into the Port Dawg University. PDU provides accession training and ensures they are mission ready in 90 days.

PDU trains new Airmen in their required core tasks and assists them in completing their career development course and five-level training requirements.

An advantage of PDU is new Airmen complete each volume of their CDCs in a month versus the average completion time of three to 12 months, according to Tech. Sgt. Gregory Stucky, 62nd APS PDU NCO in charge.

"The Air Mobility Command standard is one year and we are exceeding that standard by having Airmen complete them in 90 days," said Master Sgt. Matthew Sollars, 62nd APS PDU superintendent.

During the first week of the course, Airmen are issued volume one of their three volume set of CDCs. Each week they are issued another volume to study. Once their fifth week begins Airmen are ready to begin testing to complete their CDCs.

"This allows new Airmen to have an allotted time to solely focus on completing their CDCs," said Stucky.

Throughout their time studying, Airmen are quizzed, lectured and tutored by instructors before taking their final CDC test. Airmen are given practice tests, which are evaluated by instructors, to determine whether or not they are ready to take the final.

"If we don't feel someone is ready we don't push them to test," said Sollars. "We are not setting them up for failure. We are setting them up for success."

Following the completion of their CDCs, students begin hands-on-training of core task and deployment-specific skills, which include operating heavy equipment, pallet buildup and computer based training.

The students are taught how to safely operate and use 4,000 and 10,000 pound forklifts and the Halverson Loader, which is capable of transporting 25,000 pounds of cargo. While training, students practice loading and unloading pallets from staging areas and safely transporting them from one area to another.

"We ensure they feel comfortable and confident driving the equipment before signing them off," said Sollars.

PDU instructors collaboratively evaluate each student before making the decision on whether or not an Airman is competent enough to progress in the course, said Sollars.

"The positive side of this training is that you can guarantee the same standard of training for every Airman," said Stucky.

In addition to teaching students about their job, PDU also focuses on integrating the new Airmen into the Air Force through open-rank inspections, mentorship sessions and volunteer involvement.

"We strive to instill and ensure the discipline they received in their basic training and technical school remains," said Sollars.

PDU has had zero end-of course exam failures since its inception in 2005. In 2013, PDU graduated 70 students with zero CDC failures.

"Our phrase is 'We take Airmen and make them mission ready in 90 days'," said Sollars. "When our Airmen return to their section they are ready to deploy if necessary."