From PowerPoint to Innovation – US AFB Improves Training Regimen

The Electro-optics and Infrared (EO/IR) Flight of the 775th Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California, turned to the SparkEd innovation team for funding assistance to improve the in-house EO/IR training approach, and expedite and enhance the learning process. Previously, the training had been conducted through Microsoft PowerPoint.

The unit consists of about 25 engineers that conduct testing of airborne military EO/IR systems and lasers. They are part of the 412th Test Engineering Group in the 412th Test Wing, also at Edwards AFB. The EO/IR training is a lengthy process and can take more than five years for a non-optics-background engineer to come up to speed. Even engineers with formal EO/IR educational background require specialized training in military applications and IR.

“They don’t teach everything in school…in-house EO/IR training is crucial,” said Karapet Gyurjyan, acting flight chief, EO/IR Flight, 775th TS. “On top of the education requirements of becoming an engineer, you have to know all of the military applications, and you’ve got to have flight-test experience.”

The responsibility of providing in-house training for these engineers fell on the organization. However, in-house training had limitations and needed improvements.

Ron Hardgrove, flight chief, EO/IR Flight, 775th TS, developed the idea of purchasing the equipment that would serve as training aids for the students, which would help the training resonate more effectively. The innovation project was pitched to the SparkEd – 412th TW Innovation Team in mid-summer of 2020 and shortly after was approved for funding. The EO/IR began purchasing items by late fall.

When a previous training session might display in PowerPoint the characteristics and effects of lenses in a telescope and a camera, the new period-of-instruction would allow for students to hold these cameras and look through lenses to witness the effects of the different types and shapes of lenses.

“For example, you can change the iris of a camera to see how the image changes and how that affects your resolution and your focusing ability,” said Kevin Meyer, intern engineer at 775th TS. These concepts are more difficult to communicate in Word or PowerPoint.

“Beneficiaries of this innovation are not just from our flight,” said Gyurjyan. “In addition to the EO/IR team, the Radar, Electronic Warfare, Weapons, and Human Systems Integration disciplines at Edwards would benefit from this training as well. In addition, we're going to do road shows. We gave the training at Nellis AFB a couple of times because there was demand over there.”

New and more capable training devices are shaking the foundations of defense departments’ training enterprises. Read more in  Flight Training Disruptors.

According to Gyurjyan, Nellis incorporated a new system and needed their workforce trained to understand how to test that system.

“They asked us to go over (to Nellis) and provide the training,” said Gyurjyan. “Our goal is to keep on doing this…to go around the country to different bases and teach this course and do the demonstrations for all of our students. Our goal is to provide training across the Air Force Test Center.”

The 775th TS pitched the training innovation twice to the SparkEd team – the official AFWERX-recognized Spark Cell for Edwards – after which the team agreed to fund the training items.

AFWERX’s core mission is to improve Air Force capabilities by connecting innovators, simplifying technology transfer, and accelerating results by connecting diverse, innovative members from industry, academia, and government; creating capabilities options and prototype opportunities for the Air Force; facilitating streamlined acquisition processes; and fostering a culture of innovation in Airmen.