Lt Col Jesse "Magic" Johnson
USAF Training Modernization: A Strategy to Reach the Future
Lt Col. Jesse "Magic" Johnson, United States Air Force
Abstract
The United States Air Force (USAF) trains approximately 340,000 American and International students in 136 different career field specialties to reach a total end strength of 703,758 highly qualified personnel capable of executing the mission of the USAF anytime, anywhere. Traditional methods of training, developing, and equipping Airmen do not translate to modern mission needs. Given the proven impact of XR training methodologies, the USAF’s next objective is to convert traditional training into methodologies of the future.
Current Air Force training methodologies incorporates a learn, practice, demonstrate format where theory and practice are separated into distinct environments with particular and specific desired outcomes. XR technologies afford the opportunity to combine the two. USAF efforts to transform training requires a bold leap beyond the practices of the traditional classroom with the adaptation of modern approaches to information sharing in ways that appeal to a younger generation accustomed to instant access to information. An initial proof of concept solution resulted in a 46 percent reduction in training time and a 2 percent increase in knowledge retention. The overall strategy seeks to arm senior leaders with up-to-date, relevant human capital and performance information by making connections between an employee learning record, performance record, and the mission requirements, allowing near real time analysis of the member’s training readiness and employability.
New immersive training methodologies are the cornerstone of effective education and training strategies to expedite the transition from novice to expert among a new generation of learners. Legacy methods of instruction are becoming more difficult to employ in a generation of Airman raised as technology consumers. The USAF is the perfect testbed for deploying emerging educational methodologies on a new generation of learners.
Biography
Lt Col. Jesse W. Johnson is the 19th Air Force, Maintenance and Logistics Deputy Director at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. He is responsible for oversight and maintenance of over 10,000 maintainers at 17 locations, 1,582 aircraft/ ground trainers, 2,350 engines and 60,000 support equipment items valued in excess of $51.5B. He is directly responsible for supporting 501,345 flying hours and generating more than 360,000 sorties annually, utilizing 29 different types of aircraft, in support of AETC’s programmed flying training mission.
Lt Col. Johnson grew up on Air Force bases around the world and received his commission through Reserve officer Training Corps at Virginia Tech in 2009. He holds a master’s degree in organizational management and Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University.
With 22 years on Active Duty and in the Air National Guard, he has served in a variety of positions, officer and enlisted, including General Officer Executive Officer, Commander of training modernization, maintenance operations officer in a Total Force Associate wing, an Officer Training School Instructor, an Education with Industry tour with United Airlines, and three combat deployments. He has extensive aircraft maintenance experience on the C-130 H/H2/H3, F-16 C/D, F-22, B-1, KC-135, and Boeing 757.
Prior to his current position Lt Colonel Johnson served as the Commander, Detachment 23, Technical Training Transformation, Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly, Texas