Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kathy Pool, 335th Training Squadron Personnel Apprentice Course instructor, writes class material on a whiteboard inside Wolfe Hall at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, November 3, 2020. The 335th TRS tested the Direct to Duty Technical Training program on a class of prior-service students, aiming to save money and time, keep the students safe and healthy and allow them to stay with their families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seth Haddix)Direct to Duty Technical Training program PACs a punch at Air Force training
                        
                        
                        Tech. Sgt. Kathy Pool, 335th Training Squadron Personnel Apprentice Course instructor, writes class material on a whiteboard inside Wolfe Hall at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Nov. 3, 2020. The 335th TRS tested the Direct to Duty Technical Training program on a class of prior-service students, aiming to save money and time, keep the students safe and healthy and allow them to stay with their families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seth Haddix)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Direct to Duty Technical Training program PACs a punch at Air Force trainingPublished Nov. 10, 2020
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Seth Haddix
                    
                    
                    81st Training Wing Public Affairs
            **KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNS) --**The 81st Training Group initiated the **Direct to Duty Technical Training** program earlier this year to test the attainability of training Airmen at their assigned base, skipping the costly and timely process of technical training school.
The trial tested the possibility of sending Airmen from basic military training straight to their assigned base. As a result of the program’s success, the Personnel Apprentice Course leadership implemented the program for their class of prior-service students.
“We were hoping to speed up the training for students and save valuable resources,” said Jennifer DesJardin, 335th Training Squadron PAC instructor supervisor. “Eliminating the need for travel saves time and money and allows students to stay with their families.”
The students cross-trained to become personnel apprentices, a job which includes analyzing Air Force policy and providing recommendations to leadership and Airmen on benefits, entitlements, career progression, retention and relocation programs. The class of nine students were made up of active duty Airmen, guardsmen and reservists. Three members of the class initially served in other military branches.
Being able to attend the class online allowed Staff Sgt. Ambreh Miranda, 129th Civil Engineering Squadron Moffett Federal Airfield Mountain View, California, customer support administrator, was able to care for her children, who were completing school virtually due to COVID-19.
“It was very convenient for me to balance my work and family life,” Miranda said. “Caring for my children in the morning before taking the course at work gave me the opportunity to focus on my training while also caring for my family.”
Eliminating travel and quarantine, the class completed the course in four weeks, compared to the projected eight weeks it usually takes, and saved approximately a total of $75,000.
During COVID-19, the course takes a projected eight weeks to complete due to quarantine and travel. However, transforming with Airman-centric instruction at the speed of learning has allowed the class to finish in four weeks and overall save approximately $75,000.
“The situation was a win-win all around,” DesJardin said. “We not only were efficient but were also able to graduate the students during Hurricane Zeta, while we had no power.”
Even though the class was just a test run, the instructors hope this can eventually become the normal for their prior-service students.
“The virtual class has allowed us to be flexible,” said Tech. Sgt. Kathy Pool, 335th TRS PAC instructor. “The students are able to concentrate on their families while also accomplishing the mission.”AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



AETC 



Air Education and Training Command 



Keesler AFB 



D2T2 



PAC 



training 



Direct to Duty Technical Training program 



Personnel Apprentice Course Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil