University assists Air Force programmers Published May 22, 2003 By Belinda Bazinet Standard Systems Group Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. (AFPN) -- Airmen are improving their programming skills with help from experts called in from Auburn University at Montgomery by Standard Systems Group officials here.Standard Systems Group manages information technology contracts and standard information system programs commonly used at all active and Reserve Air Force bases and Defense Department agencies.Airmen lacking leading-edge technology skills were a definite problem for the Air Force, said Master Sgt. Kevin Costello, noncommissioned officer in charge of SSG students."We partnered with AUM to quickly get them up to speed," Costello said.The students agree. Airman Jacob Viator had no prior programming experience other than at technical training school."I think the training is great,” he said. “I'm really enjoying it and learning a lot."The five-month program, managed through AUM's department of information systems and decisions sciences, was customized to prepare for SSG's Java Center of Excellence opening. Costello said the center substantially improves the way the group delivers software solutions to the Air Force."This program was born out of our desire to strengthen and standardize training given to our computer programmers," said retired Chief Master Sgt. Gilbert Duenas, former software development division superintendent. "From the very beginning we met with the teaching staff to identify effective teaching methods."The result combines lecture and lab work in a condensed program offered to 64 programmers. Each student is required to take an object-oriented design fundamentals course, two courses in programming languages and two courses in Oracle database."This emersion training will take a four-month course and shrink it into about three weeks," Costello said.They are considered full-time AUM students and will earn 15 credit hours. Eventually, all new enlisted computer programmers will go through this training.Professor (Dr.) Ava Horn is impressed with the students."The discipline in this group and the way they work together is exciting to see," she said. "SSG trainees take it serious, and the students are motivated to excel. There's a symbiotic relationship between AUM and these young people."The courses are a major step for Air Force programmers to provide dependable, reliable software support that could make a difference to U.S. troops in contingency situations, Duenas said."This program will pay long-term dividends to SSG. It is a calculated investment in the future of the group," Duenas said. "We are postured to succeed in the future and to respond to our continuously changing technology." (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)