DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- For the past 18 months, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center has been working towards reaching the gold standard for training in the truck driving world, Professional Truck Drivers Institute certification.
On January 23, the first class of students graduated with that qualification in a capstone event at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia as the 622nd Expeditionary Combat Support-Training and Certification Center became the first organization in the Department of Defense to obtain PTDI certification.
"Now professionally trained, commercially certified and licensed Airmen can transition seamlessly into the civilian workforce,” said Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris, 22nd Air Force commander. “This is a big win for our Airmen, our AFRC for being the first site certified in the Department of Defense and for our nation's economy."
The course currently allows for 64 Airmen to go through this training each year.
David Money, member of the PTDI board of directors, expressed the likelihood of employment on the outside world for course graduates.
“We are always looking for good quality drivers,” he explained. “We always encourage our employers to look for former military members because of their dedication to excellence.”
Air Force, community and PTDI leaders came out for the event to honor the unit and recognize the graduates. The guests received an overview of the program and the skills training area.
The 622nd continues to seek new ways to improve their training and gain more professional certifications to ease Airmen’s transitions to the civilian side.
“We are currently working towards a crane certification next,” said Chief Master Sgt. Trevor Shattuck, career field manager at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Once implemented, the schoolhouse at Dobbins expects approximately 150 students to receive similar accreditation for crane operations.
“We want to try to move these programs into a transition assistance type course before Airmen separate from the military,” said Chief Master Sgt. Leonard Howard, the 622nd Expeditionary Combat Support-Training and Certification Center commandant.
The course is currently available for 6,711 AF vehicle and equipment operators with the goal of expanding to all applicable servicemembers.