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Italian airmen get McGuire KC-10 boom training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dilia DeGrego
  • McGuire Public Affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  The four international students — the first of 12 from their country – conclude their American aircraft training today at McGuire. 

Italian Warrant officers Roberto Gabriele, Massimiliano Sorrentino, Fabio Fiacco and Luca Gabriele attend the Air Force’s KC-10 boom operator’s course here, training at the 305th Operations Support Squadron’s KC-10 formal training unit since April. 

The students began their training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, before going to Altus Air Force Base, Okla., and finally proceeding to McGuire. The warrant officers came to the United States to receive platform training in order to become familiar with operating a boom. 

They received this training in preparation for their country’s expected purchase and use of the KC-767. The Air Force’s KC-10 is the most similar to this particular aircraft. However, because there are some differences between the two aircraft, the students will have to adjust some of their training to better fit the KC-767. 

Since their arrival at McGuire, the group said they have been well received and are very impressed with how the entire base has had a positive impact on their training, including the contracted Boeing instructors here at McGuire.  They were also surprised to find a little piece of Italy right outside of McGuire’s gates at a local Italian restaurant.  
“Everyone on and off base has received us with open arms,” said Warrant Officer Luca Gabriele. “Our instructors are wonderful and extremely knowledgeable. They have taught us so much.” 

Just as the Italian warrant officers have enjoyed their time at McGuire, their KC-10 FTU instructors, Master Sgt. Keith Van Camp, Tech.. Sgts. Leo Brown, Saksen Rissabute, Dave Megill, Jeremiah Love and Scotty O’Neil, and Staff Sgts. Jeff Gordy and Shawn Lightner, said they share the same feelings. 

“Any time we get a chance to work with our allies, everyone benefits,” said Sergeant Van Camp. “We learned from them — as well as they from us.  What we really found out was that we are not that different in the way we do things.” 

“They have brought a wealth of knowledge with them,” added Sergeant Brown. “Because they’ve had experience on so many types of aircraft in their country, they have received a great deal of experience, and we have been fortunate enough for them to have shared it with us.” 

The warrant officers received the same training any U.S. Air Force boom operator would receive – no corners were cut, said Sergeant Van Camp. While training at McGuire, they spent their non-flying days at mission planning and going over training objectives. On flying days they arrived about four hours prior to takeoff to be brief of any changes, before heading off to preflight the aircraft.  

The average flight lasted about five hours, and the mission usually included both tanker and receiver refueling followed by transition.  After the flight, the students would be debriefed on the mission and any other required training objectives were covered. It was also necessary they be trained on both day and night refueling prior to receiving their check-ride on an air refueling mission, the last requirement for their training here. 

The four students agreed that, in the beginning of their training at Lackland, they had a slight problem with the language barrier, but they were able to quickly overcome it and graduate at the top of their class. 

“I would have to say the hardest part of our academic training was the basic boom operator course, because there was so much material to cover and remember. Also, we were becoming more familiar with the English language,” said Warrant Officer Sorrentino. “However, we can all agree that being away from our families for almost a year has been even more difficult.” 

Now that they have completed their training, the four warrant officers will return to Italy and train others on what they have learned here. 

The KC-10 FTU instructors are looking forward to the next eight Italian students scheduled to attend KC-10 boom operating training, said Sergeant Van Camp. They should find out next fiscal year’s student list some time in September, all of whom should be from Italy.