82nd Training Wing
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82d Training Wing | |
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Active | 1947-1949; 1972-1993' 1993-present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Training |
Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
Garrison/HQ | Sheppard Air Force Base |
Motto(s) | Adorimini Latin Up and At 'Em[1] |
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Commanders | |
Commander | Brigadier General Scott A. Kindsvater |
Vice-Commander | Colonel Eric Froehlich |
Command Chief | Chief Master Sergeant Eric Johnson |
The 82d Training Wing (82 TRW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command, Second Air Force. It is stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas where it also is the host unit.[2]
The Wing produces more than 62,000 graduates annually in more than 1,000 Technical Training courses.[3] The primary training includes aircraft maintenance, civil engineering, nuclear and conventional munitions, aerospace ground equipment, avionics and telecommunications training conducted by the four assigned training groups. It also hosts the 80th Flying Training Wing, the world's only internationally manned and managed flying training program.[4]
The units' history goes back to the 82d Fighter Group, which was a Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Force combat unit that fought in North Africa and Italy during World War II. During the early years of the Cold War, the 82d Fighter Wing was a Strategic Air Command fighter escort and tactical fighter unit.
The commander of the 82d Training Wing is Brig. Gen Scott A. Kindsvater.[5] The Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Eric Johnson.[6]
Mission and Vision
The 82nd Training Wing produced more than 62,000 graduates in 2012 in nearly 1,000 courses, including aircraft maintenance (propulsion, flight equipment, fuels), civil engineering, nuclear and conventional munitions, aerospace ground equipment, avionics, electricians and plumbers and telecommunications specialties.[7] Today, Sheppard's training influence reaches around the globe.[8]
Units
The 82 TRW is the largest of four technical training wings in Air Education and Training Command and is the most diversified in scope of training. The 82d, 782d, and 982d Training Groups conduct training at Sheppard and at geographically separated locations around the country. The 982d Training Group conducts training at locations worldwide.
82d Training Group (82 TRG)[9]
782d Training Group (782 TRG)[10]
982d Training Group (982 TRG)[11]
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82d Mission Support Group (82 MSG)[12]
82d Medical Group (82 MDG)[13]
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Additionally, the 82d Comptroller Squadron (82 CPTS) reports directly to the 82 TRW.
History
The wing's history started with the 82d Fighter Group, which fought in Europe during World War II.
Cold War
The 82d was established as a Strategic Air Command fighter wing on 28 July 1947 at Grenier Field, New Hampshire. The 82d Fighter Wing was established in accordance with the Hobson Plan which established a controlling wing at each Air Force Base that commanding all groups and support units on the facility. However, the Air Force did not organize (assign personnel) to the wing until 15 August 1947. The wing was attached to the 307th Bomb Wing from 15 August 1947 to 15 December 1948. On 16 December 1948 the wing was reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force.
The operational flying component of the wing was the 82d Fighter Group, composed of the 95th, 96th and 97th Fighter Squadrons and were equipped with Lockheed P-38 Lighting aircraft. Most officers that arrived were rated pilots that had recently returned to military life. Many had World War II combat experience. Many officers and enlisted men arrived at Grenier from 62nd Fighter Squadron, a unit that had just returned from a winter test in Alaska.
The wing was relieved of its responsibilities to the Fifteenth Air Force on 22 August 1949 and was inactivated on 20 October 1949.
Air Training Command
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/The_first_ten_female_officers_to_graduate_from_the_Air_Force_Undergraduate_Pilot_Training_Program_pose_for_a_group_photo_in_front_of_a_T-38_training_aircraft%2C_Williams_Air_Force_Base%2C_AZ_DF-ST-84-00864.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
The 82d replaced and absorbed resources of the 3525th Pilot Training Wing in February 1973 at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and assumed undergraduate pilot training operations in Cessna T-37 Tweet and Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft. Assigned to the wing were the 96th and 97th Flying Training Squadrons.
On 19 September 1976, the first women entered undergraduate pilot training. Ten female students were in Class 77-08. First Lieutenant Christine E. Schott became the first woman to solo in the T-38. On 2 September 1977, Class 77-08 graduated. The ten women received their wings along with 36 male classmates. In March 1978, the 82d’s first female instructor pilot, Capt Connie Engel, was assigned to the 97th Fighter Training Squadron to instruct T-38 students.
Air Training Command activated the 98th and the 99th Flying Training Squadrons on 1 June 1988 to test a four-squadron organization. The test showed the wing needed a fifth squadron to provide operational support. On 1 September 1989, ATC activated the 100th Flying Training Squadron.
In 1991 Congress approved the second round of base closures, as identified by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. On that list was Williams. The base was to cease operation as of 30 September 1993. With Williams scheduled to close, ATC decided to move part of that base’s T-38 fleet to Sheppard Air Force Base during 1992.
HQ USAF redesignated the 82d Flying Training Wing as the 82d Training Wing and assigned the designation to Air Education and Training Command on 1 July 1993. The 82d was inactivated at Williams and HQ AETC activated the 82d Training Wing at Sheppard and assigned it to Second Air Force. The 82d’s new mission was to conduct ground technical training. The 82d also became the host unit at Sheppard.
The 782d Training Group was activated on 23 March 1994 and assigned it to the 82d Training Wing. At the same time, the 396th Technical Training Group changed its name to the 82d Training Group, the 82d Medical Group became the 882d Training Group, and the 82d Field Training Group became the 982d Training Group. On 30 March, the wing began providing mission ready technician training, first in the C-141 crew chief course and, a day later, in the F-16 crew chief course. The C-141 program graduated its first class in August, followed in September by the F-16 class.
Lineage
- Established as the 82 Fighter Wing on 28 July 1947
- Organized on 15 August 1947
- Inactivated on 2 October 1949
- Redesignated 82 Flying Training Wing on 22 June 1972[15]
- Activated on 1 February 1973
- Inactivated on 31 March 1993
- Redesignated 82 Training Wing and activated on 1 July 1993[16]
Assignments
- Strategic Air Command, 15 August 1947 (attached to 307 Bombardment Wing)
- Fifteenth Air Force, 16 December 1948
- First Air Force, 22 August - 2 October 1949
- Air Training Command, 1 February 1973 - 31 March 1993
- Second Air Force, 1 July 1993 – present[16]
Components
Groups
- 82d Fighter Group (later 82d Operations Group): August 15, 1947 – October 2, 1949 (detached April 4 – 29 June 1948); 15 December 1991 – 31 March 1993)[16]
- 82d Training Group
- 782d Training Group
- 982d Training Group
Squadrons
- 96th Flying Training Squadron 1 February 1973-15 December 1991
- 97th Flying Training Squadron 1 February 1973-15 December 1991
- 98th Flying Training Squadron 1 June 1988-15 December 1991
- 99th Flying Training Squadron 1 June 1988-15 December 1991
- 100th Flying Training Squadron 1 September 1989-15 December 1991[16]
Stations
- Grenier Field (later Grenier Air Force Base)], New Hampshire, 15 August 1947 - 2 October 1949
- Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 February 1973 - 31 March 1993
- Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1993 – present[16]
Aircraft Operated
- North American P-51 Mustang (later F-51) (1947–1949)
- Cessna T-37 Tweet (1973–1992)
- Northrop T-38 Talon (1973–1993)[16]
Notes
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 117-118
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/baseinformation/index.asp
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/units/82ndtrainingwing/index.asp
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/baseinformation/index.asp
- ^ http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/108832/brigadier-general-scott-a-kindsvater.aspx
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=16085
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/units/82ndtrainingwing/index.asp
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/units/82ndtrainingwing/index.asp
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/factsheetspage/factsheet.asp?id=5172
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/factsheetspage/factsheet.asp?id=5173
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/factsheetspage/factsheet.asp?id=5175
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/factsheetspage/factsheet.asp?id=5169
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/library/factsheetspage/factsheet.asp?id=5177
- ^ http://www.sheppard.af.mil/units/82ndtrainingwing/index.asp
- ^ Despite the similarity in names, the wing is not related to the 82d Flying Training Wing (Flexible Gunnery) that was constituted in 1943, activated on 25 August 1943 at Las Vegas Army Airfield, Nevada and assigned to Western Flying Training Command and disbanded on 16 June 1946.
- ^ a b c d e f Haulman, Daniel L. (February 20, 2015). "Factsheet 82 Training Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
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Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
Further reading
- Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.