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First F-22 Ace graduate

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A Sheppard Airman became the first "Ace" in the F-22 Raptor June 12 -- sort of.

Airman 1st Class Philip Gertz, 362nd Training Squadron F-22 Aircraft Maintenance Course graduate, scored 100 percent on all eight blocks of instruction making him to do so for the course.

Airman Gertz said the training was tough, but gladly accepted the challenge.

"The class was very stressful because we were learning so much information in so little time, but I viewed this class as a goal that had to be achieved," he said.

Airman Gertz did just that. Where most students would worry about failing an exam, Gertz worried about missing that one question that could cost him his perfect score, he said.

"The Ace award is the highest academic honor a student can achieve," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Troxell, Airman Gertz's instructor. "He is the first ever F-22 course recipient of this academic award out of more than 350 students who have taken the course."

The course of instruction includes fighter aircraft fundamentals, general airframe, avionics, electrical, environmental, engine starting systems, hydraulics, flight controls, engines, landing gear and inspections, he said.

Throughout the challenging course Airman Gertz never got discouraged, he said.

At the graduation ceremony Airman Gertz received coins from three senior leaders in his chain of command.

"He was coined by the 82nd Training Wing commander, the 782nd Training Group commander and the 362nd TRS commander," Sergeant Troxell said. "His pockets were pretty heavy by the end of the ceremony."

Airman Gertz will become a member of the 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla., upon graduation from a 4-week follow-on course taught there. He will be assigned to the 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit as an F-22 crew chief.

"He was always studying and helping the other students. It was almost like having another course instructor at the dorms. He was a great student and I hope he does well in his career," Sergeant Troxell said.