SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
As the last Medical Materiel Apprentice and Supervisor training courses graduate June 28, Sheppard gives a final farewell to last of the 882nd Training Group courses as it completes the move to the Medical Education and Training Campus at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The move is part of the Base Realignment and Closure decision of 2005 to consolidate military medical training and has been accomplished seamlessly without a single break in training.
Over the past two years about 156 courses producing approximately 13,000 graduates annually were moved to METC at Fort Sam Houston with courses simultaneously operating at two different locations.
Staff Sgt. Jeff Clark, 382nd Training Squadron Medical Materiel Course instructor supervisor, said planning was an important piece for a successful move.
"For two years we were working on the curriculum and integrating the courses getting ready for the joint operations with the Army," he said. "It's just amazing that all the teamwork and preparation paid off and we were able to move with no breaks in training."
Dee Ann Mejia, 882nd Training Support Squadron METC coordinator, said the actual movement began March 2010 and the last enlisted class graduated June 28, but plans were being made as soon as the BRAC decision was announced in 2005.
"The 882nd Training Group established a METC Transition Office and staffed it with three military members and four contractors," she said. "This office provided program management for the entire 882nd (TRG) transition. There were points of contact assigned to each of the following areas: command and control, policies and procedures, military training leaders, manpower, personnel, operations, readiness, academics, public relations, facilities, logistics, information management and finances."
Ms. Mejia said each assigned section established their own working group to work on tasks with their METC counter parts.
"The working groups planned with the 882 TRG METC Transition Office to identify the necessary transition tasks," she said. "The 882nd (TRG) METC Transition Office worked with the Transformation Integration Office (TIO) at Fort Sam to accomplish all required transition requirements. The TIO is a multidisciplinary team that was established by the Site Activation Task Force."
Sheppard was responsible for moving 5,271 students, 456 personnel and 18 courses total after the transition is completed.