The Ministry of National Guard's (MNG) Aviation Institute for Training Directorate (AITD) celebrated the first graduating class of the initial Structural Aircraft Repair Course on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023.
By completing this six-month course, four MNG noncommissioned officers (NCOs) earned the 15G Military Occupational Specialty, which enables the graduates to make structural repairs to any air frame in the MNG helicopter fleet, expanding the capability of MNG Aviation industry.
The graduation was the result of months of collaboration between MNG, AITD, Office of the Program Manager-Saudi Arabia National Guard (OPM-SANG), and Vinnell Arabia personnel. OPM-SANG's Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Gore said, "from equipping the classroom with computers to resourcing materials used in the course, there were many logistical challenges for the team to overcome."
"Because the MOS enables the NCOs to work on any air frame, we needed materials from multiple air frames for use in the course," said OPM-SANG's Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Jackson. "This required the movement of tons of material from different airfields."
OPM-SANG Program Manager Col. Michael Trotter congratulated the graduates and course designers. "The 15G MOS is a new capability for MNG aviation. It is inspiring to see MNG NCOs completing this rigorous course as the result of the vision, support, and in collaboration with U.S. Army NCOs."
The 15G MOS is not the only new capability coming to MNG Aviation. The MNG, AITD, OPM-SANG, and Vinnell Arabia team are currently shepherding the initial Aircraft Powerplant Repairer Course. This course certifies 15B MOS capabilities, which will enable MNG NCOs to work on any helicopter engine in the MNG fleet. The course concludes in September 2023.
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