TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lt. Col. Gregg Boulanger, instructor pilot and chief of training with the 79th Air Refueling Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California, made history as the first Reservist to complete the Night Vision Goggle Academic Instructor course for the KC-46 aircraft.
Boulanger, who completed the course in December at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is now qualified to instruct others in using NVGs for the KC-46 aircraft. The NVG Academic Instructor course is designed to train aircrews to operate in low-light and no-light conditions using night vision technology. The course includes ground academics on how to properly use NVG devices.
Boulanger is now able to instruct and train other Citizen Airmen in the 79th ARS to become NVG qualified on the KC-46.
“Lt. Col. Boulanger is not only training Citizen Airman but also training the active duty on NVGs,” said Lt. Col. John Cuellar, 79th ARS commander. “He went from being a Citizen Airman to embodying that Tota Force model and working with our counterparts. It really shows one fight, one Team Travis.”
The goal of the course is for Airmen to learn how to operate the KC-46 in low-light and no-light conditions, improving safety and mission effectiveness during nighttime flights.
“These devices enable us to acquire the runway using infrared, which is undetectable to the naked eye, but we can use these night vision goggles to see that light, find the runway and still maintain safe operations,” said Boulanger.
Senior Master Sgt. Mike Parks, 79th ARS boom operator has obtained his qualification in NVG on the KC-46 aircraft under Boulanger’s training.
“To go into a new airframe with a new mindset and new operation of reality, bold steps must be taken. The focus in this squadron has been about taking those bold steps in areas that are tactically relevant,” said Parks.
With NVG training now integrated into the 79th ARS readiness program, Airmen are honing their skills for operations that may involve future nighttime scenarios, including takeoffs and landings with limited lighting at airfields.
In addition to Boulanger and Parks, the individuals from the 79th ARS who made history as AFRC’s first KC-46 NVG initial cadre team are: Maj. Michael Renolayan, Maj. John Milani, Maj. Christian Rotter, Maj. Mark Garrison, Master Sgt. Ryan Gregory, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Samuel Nolan.