39th FTS develops partnership with regional USCG

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea, 340th Flying Training Group Public Affairs

The 39th Flying Training Squadron recently hosted Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi Commanding Officer Capt. Richard “Tony” Hahn during an interagency partnership visit.

 

Hahn, whose Corpus-area team averages 80-plus life-saving rescues, assists nearly 600 people in distress, and manages more than $3 million in real property annually, reached out to the 39th for discussion on a hot button issue for all flying services: pilot/aircrew retention.

 

The 39th has an exceptionally strong retention and recruiting model and is in a unique position to illustrate the benefits of reserve integration - an option that enables the service to retain critical aircrew skills, and allows separating Airmen to continue to serve and pursue other life options.

 

“The Coast Guard has a rock-solid reputation and program, so we can also benefit from a relationship focused on sharing best practices,” said 39th visit host Lt. Col. Andrew Kissinger. “Captain Hahn is a Coast Guard career aviator with more than 4,000 flight hours, so he has a lot of experience to share, and we’re excited to have been able to show him how the 39th operates.”

 

Kissinger, who has known Hahn for the majority of their adult lives, briefed his guest on retention and recruiting solutions implemented at the 39th, and escorted him on a tour of the squadron. Following an airspace familiarization and local training rules briefing, Kissinger and wingmen from the unit took the Captain on a familiarization flight in the T-6 Texan II.

 

While the primary focus of the 39th FTS is to deliver unrivaled instructors to the Air Education and Training command, unit members also embrace opportunities - like this one - to help develop and sustain interagency partnerships.