17th Training Group Acquires New C-130 Static Trainers to Enhance Firefighter Training

SAN ANGELO, TX — The 17th Training Group has acquired new static C-130 aircraft trainers to upgrade hands-on training for Department of War firefighters at the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy. 

The trainers will give future joint-service firefighters realistic familiarization training on one of the military’s most widely used airframes, officials said Thursday. 

The acquisition marks a significant improvement in training capabilities at the academy, according to a media advisory released by the 17th Training Wing.

“The 17th Training Wing has an outsized impact on national security as the premier training pipeline for Department of War fire protection professionals and joint-service intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) training,” said Col. Matthew Norton, 17th Training Wing commander. “By continuously investing in advanced, high-fidelity training assets like these C-130 static trainers, we ensure that thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Guardians are prepared to deploy worldwide and save lives on the front lines.”