STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. --
Eighteen Airmen from Air Mobility Command wings throughout the country, including active duty and Guard, convened here Aug. 22-24 to complete Patriot Excalibur (PEX) User Training in order to keep them proficient in the training and readiness program used throughout the Intelligence career field.
“We wanted to host a mobile training team here because we not only wanted to get our people trained, but we also wanted to showcase our unit; it turned out to be total force integration – active duty and Guard training together,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Trottier, 109th Operations Group superintendent and AMC PEX mayor. Trottier said National Guard Bureau has been instrumental in ensuring Airmen are receiving this training.
“PEX provides a unit-level software toolset that enables Air Force, Joint Service, and Foreign Military unit personnel to conduct accurate and real-time operational tasks and track readiness status,” said Scott Coppinger, PEX training instructor with PatchPlus Consulting.
The program allows users to track training and readiness.
“Features include training, scheduling, and standardization and evaluation (Stan/Eval) modules. In addition to streamlining operations and readiness processes, PEX provides unit leadership and MAJCOMs with real-time and historic readiness and compliance data,” Coppinger said.
“It’s the online documentation system for the Intelligence career field,” said Trottier. “As they add modules, there’s increased learning curves. … It’s been around for a while, but as units get used to it, these mobile training teams go around and provide training.”
Trottier said there are people who have been using the system for a while, but still attend these training opportunities to learn the newest features of the program. “And of course there’s new Airmen coming through who need the training,” he said.
“We’re transitioning from paper-based training records to PEX as our primary,” said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew VanDuesen with the 222nd Command and Control Squadron in Rome, New York. “This is my third time attending PEX training – this gives us a good baseline for how to use PEX and has opened up our eyes on possible future usage.”
“As a brand new lieutenant it’s been a really good experience because I can help the junior enlisted develop themselves and also improve their career,” said 1st Lt. Jose Velez, Intelligence Officer with the Puerto Rico ANG’s 156th Airlift Wing.
“I got assigned as the senior intel officer of training and stan/eval, and I had no idea what PEX was or how to do any of this, so coming to this training was pretty vital for me,” said 1s Lt. Tessa Land with the 62nd AW at McChord Air Force Base, Washington.
“I’m just trying to learn the basics of PEX so I can take over our PEX training for our unit,” said Senior Airman Alexis Elliott with the Arizona ANG’s 162nd AW. “I’ve learned some awesome tricks that I can use. It’s been great – now I know how to track everybody and make sure to stay on top of their training.”
“Whether you’re Guard, active duty or Reserve, the total force integration within the Intel career field is validated through this course,” Trottier said. “We’re all learning the same thing.”