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Charlotte Senior Squadron Conducts UDF and Mission Scanner Training

A successful first-time mission scanner training sortie
A successful first-time mission scanner training sortie. Capt Jeff Smith, MP; Maj Frank Parker, MS/T; SM Patrick Schneider, MS/T Photo taken by Maj. Brett Benson (click image to view full size)
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By Maj. Brett Benson
Charlotte Senior Squadron Emergency Services Officer

3/13/2016–Charlotte, NC–Within the past three weekends, the Charlotte Senior Squadron, NC-121 hosted two emergency services training courses at the Concord Regional Airport. Members from several Charlotte area squadrons were in attendance.

The first, an all-day UDF training course included two on-airfield practice beacon sorties. The course on 27 February included 16 senior and cadet students in attendance from NC-111, NC-137, and NC-121. The course was led by Major Brett Benson with multi-squadron assistance from Lt Col Ron Wilbanks, Maj David Shuping, Maj John May, Capt Jeff Smith, and Capt Robert Kimrey. The training included five hours of classroom study and discussion and two separate practice beacon sorties on the ramp at Concord Regional Airport to provide real-world experience to the students.

The students were broken into 5 teams, each with different tools including L’Pers, a Tracker, and handheld VHF-AM aircraft radios. The training went into thorough detail on how a UDF mission starts from activation through to turning off the beacon. By the end of the training, all students had satisfied the SQTR requirements for Urban Direction Finder.

Two weeks later on 12 February, another all-day course for Mission Scanner Aircrew Training was held at Concord Regional Airport. The course was attended by 10 senior members from five different squadrons. Another multi-squadron collaboration, this course was taught by Maj Brett Benson with assistance by Maj Jeff Focke. The training focused on the tasks and responsibilities that today’s Mission Scanner has an essential member of the aircrew. Along with the ground school, three sorties and 6 students were flown by Lt Col Ron Wilbanks and Capt Jeff Smith using one of two syllabuses each designed to reinforce the course curriculum.

This is the second time in the last year that NC-121 and NC-137 have worked together to offer both of these courses to squadrons in the region.