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AMWC Port Dawgs ‘take a bite’ out of competition, win online learning award

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Carson III
  • U.S. Air Force Mobility Operations School
FORT DIX, N.J. --  An Air Mobility Warfare Center mobile training course took gold, scoring better than computer and technology tycoons Microsoft and General Electric in the recent Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Awards in Denver, Colo.

"M-learning is just one example of the Air Mobility Warfare Center's initiatives to generate velocity in training," said Maj. Gen. Scott Gray, AMWC commander.

The AMWC Mobility Operations School designed the mobile-learning pilot project to train students in aerial port air freight operations. The project was fielded by Airmen during Air Expeditionary Force cycles 9 and 10, January through April 2006.

Air Mobility Command logistics provided full support and funding for use of a personal digital assistant to assist deployed and home station members with completion of upgrade training requirements and use as a job enhancement aid.

The MOS, through its partnership with TraCorp Inc., an online contractor, developed an air freight Web-based training lesson and transferred four out of six modules of that lesson to the PDA format. It was this set of lessons that was entered into the Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning competition.

"TraCorp and AMC are very close to offering deployed troops the opportunity to utilize innovative technology to earn college credits completely in PDA format," said Andy Schermuly, chief executive officer of TraCorp Inc. "Once the last two modules of the air freight course are formatted and added to the current lesson, it will be possible for an Airman to earn one (Community College of the Air Force) credit while flying to the (area of responsibility), sitting in an aircraft loader or even waiting in the chow line."

"I am proud of the dedication and hard work of everyone in the MOS who helped make M-learning a success," said Col. David Lawton, the MOS commandant. "The aerial porters of AMWC winning the Brandon Hall award demonstrate to all that we are providing cutting-edge media education and training to DoD personnel that is second to none."

Brandon Hall Research is a civilian service organization that spotlights the best and the brightest in online learning. It holds a competition each year to promote excellence in learning.

"This is a real story of David and Goliath," said Tech. Sgt. Dan Spain, MOS Air Transportation program manager, "These companies we beat out have some pretty deep pockets."

The annual Excellence in Learning Awards is now in its twelfth year and is the first recognition program dedicated entirely to the e-learning industry. This year, it had 252 entries from 16 countries. The entrants were judged by 631 judges from 40 countries. The complete winners list can be found at http://www.brandon-hall.com/.

The AMWC currently offers 10 online learning courses, covering such topics as air mobility operations, aircrew stage management, Tanker Airlift Control Element fundamentals and air transportation. Of these courses, four offer CCAF credits upon completion. These courses can be accessed at https://amc.csd.disa.mil.