JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- As the U.S. Air Force’s newest tanker aircraft, the KC-46A Pegasus provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nation fixed-wing, receiver-capable aircraft. In order for KC-46A aircrew to complete this mission, the aircraft must be properly maintained by a collection of trained maintenance Airmen.
Recently, the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 1, launched a crew chief technical training school at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., to increase the number of qualified KC-46A crew chiefs to ensure the aircraft is prepared to meet the growing demands of rapid global mobility in the competition continuum.
The three-month-long course at JB MDL is the second part of crew chief technical training that provides in-depth instruction specific to the KC-46A Pegasus. The first portion, a 10-day course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, introduces Airmen to the different tools and parts they may utilize.
JB MDL is the second base set up to train crew chiefs on KC-46A’s, with Travis AFB gearing up as a third location, multiplying the ready force of KC-46A maintainers in the Air Force.
“Coming online as the second [tech school location] doubles the Air Force's ability to produce KC-46 crew chiefs,” said Master Sgt. Silik Polayes, 373rd Training Squadron (TRS), Detachment 1 (Det. 1), senior enlisted leader. “So, this would be the first time we have a pipeline that's wide enough to meet [today’s operational needs].”
Getting the schoolhouse up and running has been a multi-year process that required constant involvement from 373rd TRS, Det. 1 instructors. From securing dorm rooms for the students to getting the proper equipment, they were there every step of the way.
“It's been a long time coming,” said Tech. Sgt. Melissa Davis, 373rd TRS, Det. 1 KC-46A Pegasus Mission Ready Airmen instructor. “I've been here almost four years, and I've been working on it since the day I got here. Once everything was ready to go and students started showing up, it was exciting.”
During the course, students receive hands-on training on KC-46A parts, as well as simulator and virtual reality equipment. Polayes said the schoolhouse is compiling an entire aircraft worth of parts and will combine the physical maintenance training with high-tech virtual instructions to graduate well-versed crew chiefs.
“The best system that the students have access to for learning is VMTS, our virtual maintenance training system,” said Staff Sgt. Thomas Freeman, 373rd TRS, Det. 1 KC-46A Pegasus Mission Ready Airmen instructor. “We are able to go over VMTS, they're able to see it visually, learn what it's connected to, how it works, what systems it interchanges with, and how it operates. VMTS is a very good system, and it definitely gives them a bigger head start than I think we had when we went through [technical school].”
In addition to the technological benefits of the school, JB MDL’s strategic location offers another advantage to students.
Polayes said students are exposed to many different mission sets while at JB MDL, as it is often dubbed the, “East Coast hub for tankers.” With missions including special forces and eastern seaboard movements, the students have many opportunities to learn.
Following the initial setup of the school, and throughout the first few iterations of students, the instructors have overcome many obstacles and showcased resilience to obtain required equipment. They are also prepared for a 24-hour operating schedule to maximize the amount of students able to receive first-class maintenance instruction on the Air Force’s newest tanker.
As they head into 2026, instructors will look to graduate 160 students per year, doubling Air Force capabilities for the KC-46A.