The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Det. Atsugi's Mobile Training Team (MTT) completed its first Paint and Final Finish course at Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 on board Anderson Air Base, Guam, March 3.

CNATT Det. Atsugi Officer-in-Charge Chief Warrant Officer 5 Norman Valentine commended the Navy and his mobile training teams for their dedication in making this course a success.

"Before CNATT Det. Atsugi received authorization to teach our customers in the 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet, these commands depended on stateside MTT availability," said Valentine. "Now, we have the tools and resources in place to train our Sailors out here in the fleet."

The 10-day long Paint and Final Finish course is a requirement for service members to safely and properly paint U.S. Navy aircraft. Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class (AW/SW) Brian Rambharack and Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (AW) Jason Snedeker provided 80 hours of instruction to 10 students from HSC-25 and Command Forward Air Forces (CFAF) Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Detachment (AIMD) Guam. Training included turning a plain section of sheet metal into a completed project with the U.S. naval aircraft national insignia and call signs, and simulating the work Sailors could perform at operational commands.

The course provides students with knowledge and skills of aircraft painting, including equipment types and their required maintenance, spray paint techniques, types of paint, repair and refinishing of painted surfaces, and application of aircraft markings to perform aircraft paint touch-up.

"Painting takes a lot of finesse and patience, and we talk to the students about this at the onset of the course, "said Rambharack. "Most students don't consider themselves to be very artistic, and the ability to take these Sailors and bring out their artistic talents from successfully drawing and stenciling is inspiring and brings home the importance of our [CNATT Det Atsugi's] contribution to the mission."

CNATT Det. Atsugi currently offers 20 MTT courses, with instructors traveling to various locations at the request of a command to provide instruction. The point of contact for scheduling an MTT for your command is CNATT Det. Atsugi MTT Coordinator Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic (AW) Gerardo Munizrios.

"Many times remote areas have a higher need for training multiple personnel at the same time, and bringing the course to the students can be beneficial to the command versus bringing the students to the school," Gerardo said. "This program is assisting commands in their efforts and meets the training requirements of forward deployed personnel. CNATT Det. Atsugi is always looking at ways to maximize training for our deploying service members, to ensure our shipmates are safely trained and ready, and that we're able to anticipate and react to fleet needs and requirements."

CNATT Det. Atsugi instructors - 14 total with eight available for MTT courses - are required to successfully complete the course material they'll ultimately teach. Once this training is completed, prospective instructors must practice teaching the course and satisfactorily present the lessons and demonstrations to previously qualified instructors. When an instructor completes these requirements, they are able to qualify to instruct a particular course. The Paint and Final Finish course also requires health assessment screening requirements prior to attending the course as a student.

MTT course requests can be found through the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Course Curriculum Model Manager on Navy Knowledge Online (http://www.nko.navy.mil). Select 'Aviation' under the 'My Sites' tab, and the select 'CNATT Learning Standards Office from the left navigation bar. Scroll down to the 'Mobile Training Teams' section.

CNATT Det. Atsugi delivers and supports aviation technical training through various "C" and "F" school courses as the only schoolhouse available to Forward Deployed Naval Forces.

CNATT is the technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is the largest training center under the Naval Education and Training Command.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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