Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/How long is C-5 Aircraft Maintenance School

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Expert: - 7/12/2006


Question
Hello,

I've recently "rejoined" the military in the Air Force Reserves. I have signed up to retrain into the Aircraft Maintenance AFSC, specifically dealing with the C-5 Galaxy. Can you tell me how long my tech school will be, and when and where it will occur? I know the first part of it is at Sheppard AFB, but I do not know the length of the first part nor have I received a definitely answer as to where the second part of the tech school will be located. I'm hearing Dover AFB, Delaware, but I could be wrong.

Thanks!

Rick

Answer
Greetings Rick -

I wish I could help you, but my area of expertise is aircrew operations.  I can tell you how long loadmaster, boom operator and flight engineer school is, but I have no idea about C-5 maintenance.  You can look through AFI 36-2108 for your specific AFSC, and it should tell you how long the school is, or at least what the classification code is so you can look it up in the formal schools manual.

I hope I have given you a direction to look for a better answer.  I wish I could have helped more.

Take care and good luck on your schooling.

Sincerely,
James Bell

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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James Bell

Expertise

I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.

Experience

Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager

Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.

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