Little known to many here is a team of 30 operators, engineers and contractors vital to the training of C-130 Hercules aircrews around the world.

The team oversees more than 1,700 training courses, more than $500 million in contracts and training simulators in 10 locations worldwide.

Detachment 3, Air Mobility Command Air Operations Squadron, is a complex Air Force organization -- but it makes C-130 aircrew training happen.

"We are smack-dab in the middle of C-130 training," said Lt. Col. Gary Ardes, the detachment commander. "A student who goes into the (C-130 simulator) is only seeing the tip of the iceberg. There is a huge machine behind the training of a C-130 student."

The unit’s mission is to manage the quality and effectiveness of C-130 aircrew training systems and the C-130J maintenance and training systems. The team is responsible for assuring the technical accuracy of 28 aircrew flight simulators and devices. They also provide contract oversight of numerous C-130 training contracts and personnel.

AMC tells the Air Force what kind of training its C-130 warfighters need. Then Air Education and Training Command figures out how to do the training -- and then it's implemented, Colonel Ardes said.

"We make sure that training goes off without a hitch," he said.

The unit also works with Air Force Materiel Command to make sure Air Force assets are used effectively and to make changes to procedures and training devices.

The detachment is not only charged with managing big-dollar training contracts with Lockheed Martin and Boeing, it also ensures all C-130 training simulators are as realistic and effective as possible.

Capt. Jason Jackson, chief navigator for simulator certification, ensures the simulators are run smoothly. A doctoral candidate and engineer, he is often part of a five-person team that travels to bases around the world to make sure the simulators are “flying” just like real C-130s.

"This is definitely an interesting place to work, and every day is different," Captain Jackson said. "We are fortunate enough to have the best people working for us. We work a lot behind the scenes."

The unit's work may be "behind the scenes," but their efforts for preparing aircrews for the global war on terrorism are not.

Simulators allow C-130 student pilots to practice real-world scenarios before actually deploying to a war zone -- like Baghdad International Airport, while taking fire.

Simulators at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, do just that. And the detachment was instrumental in implementing a new scenario database. The detachment is considering moving the capability to other training bases, including Little Rock.

"The ultimate litmus test is if a student leaves the simulator and steps to the plane and can fly that plane successfully. Then we have done our job," Colonel Ardes said.

"We are all about getting the right training, in the right device, to train the right aircrews at the right time," Captain Jackson said. "We feel proud we are doing our part for training the world's best C-130 aircrews."

(Courtesy of Air Education and Training News Service)