3 graduate from new C-5 schoolhouse Published Nov. 17, 2006 By Master Sgt. Collen McGee 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Three Airmen walked away from Kelly Field here secure in the knowledge that they were each the first in their class. They are the first to complete training at the new C-5 Formal Training Unit Complex. The new aircrew members consisted of flight engineer Senior Airman Raymond Montanino, and pilots 1st Lt. Paul Sloan and 2nd Lt. Blair Preston. They took initial classroom training at the Altus AFB, Okla., school and then came to the new complex here to get their practical flight training. The three climbed down the ladder Oct. 20 and asked if they had passed. They didn't get their answer until the final debriefing. "They were the perfect students," said Maj. Kevin Kelly, the instructor pilot. "I'm spoiled already but I know the kind of instruction they received at Altus and the quality shows." The trio will return to their home units with new skills and the knowledge they were a part of a pivotal point in history where, for the first time, an Air Force Reserve Command unit trained aircrews from all of the Air Force components - active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. "For years, old pilots would ask young pilots 'where did you learn that son?'" said Col. Delbert Lewis, 433rd Operations Group commander. "For years the answer was Altus. You guys will be able to say 'I learned it at Kelly Field, Lackland.'" Colonel Lewis had some special words for Airman Montanino, a native of San Antonio, serving on active duty. "You will be an expert of the airplane systems," Colonel Lewis told him. Colonel Lewis explained that the flight engineer is the technical expert of the front-end crew and has a great deal of responsibility for the safety and success of each mission. Airman Montanino will go from Kelly Field to his first active-duty assignment at Travis AFB, Calif. Lieutenant Sloan returns to his New York Air National Guard wing. Lieutenant Preston will serve at the new ANG C-5 wing in West Virginia. The next students in line for formal C-5 initial flight qualification training began their training just hours after the first three graduated. Students are transferring from the Altus AFB facility to the new Lackland complex in 25 percent increments each quarter. By the final quarter of fiscal year 2007, all C-5 aircrew students will get their ground and air training from the Air Force Reserve's 433rd Airlift Wing. A ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 30 will emphasize the Total Force role of the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and regular Air Force working together toward a common goal - training C-5 aircrews to maintain U.S. air superiority. (AFRC News Service)