The Aviation Maintenance Officer School, currently located at Naval Aviation Schools Command, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola (FL), will relocate to NAS Whiting Field as part of Naval Air Maintenance Training Group (NamTraGru) Detachment Milton in December.

The maintenance officer school, with an all-military staff of 13, teaches an indoctrination course and a manager’s course in aviation maintenance. In fiscal year 2001, the school graduated 249 students.

"The relocation will allow for the optimal growth and professional development of maintenance officers in support of the Aviation Maintenance Officer Training Continuum,” said Capt. Frank Smith, commanding officer, NamTraGru.

Approval to relocate the school to Whiting Field was given Nov. 14, 2000, by the Chief of Naval Education and Training. "NAS Whiting Field was chosen as the new location, because NamTraGru has had a detachment located there since 2000 with the necessary infrastructure in place to effectively teach the courses of instruction, and it was the most cost effective for the Navy," said Smith.

The indoctrination course is a 70-day course of instruction designed for newly commissioned Navy and Marine Corps officers with little or no prior aviation maintenance experience, as well as selected civilians and international military officers. The course provides technical information and knowledge of the managerial responsibilities and the administrative duties required to perform in an entry-level aircraft maintenance position.

The manager’s course is a 25-day course geared toward the Navy’s technical experts, limited duty officers and chief warrant officers, and senior enlisted maintenance specialists with considerable maintenance experience. The course provides instruction on the duties and responsibilities required to direct an aviation maintenance activity.

[Thanks to Lt. Kevin Barnette, Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Det Milton Public Affairs --ed.]

FMI: www.news.navy.mil/local/cnet