Ground radar systems course graduates last class Published Feb. 24, 2010 338th Training Squadron KEESLER AFB, Ms. -- Friday marks the graduation of the last 2E0X1 ground radar systems apprentice class, and though the Air Force specialty codes may have changed, the career field and mission remain the same. "Unlike many other career fields involved with the new cyberspace '3D' transformation, the fixed base and deployable missions the ground radar schoolhouse supports remain unchanged," said Edward Rush, instructor in the 338th Training Squadron. Ground radar technicians install, maintain, modify, and repair fixed and transportable air traffic control radar, weather radar and aircraft control and warning radar. As past and present radar technicians fondly sum it up, radar serves as "The Eyes of the Air Force," Mr. Rush said. Keesler has been training radar technicians since the first graduating class March 23, 1948, including Pfc. Francis A. Capes, affectionately known as "Father Radar." Private Capes trained with five others in "radar repairman reporting equipment" on the AN/CPS-1 radar set at Keesler after Boca Raton Army Air Field shut down in 1947 as a result of two hurricanes. "Since then, technicians trained in ground radar at Keesler have enabled airspace superiority around the world by providing the airspace 'picture' to commanders and air controllers," said Don Alexander, training development element chief. Currently the 338th TRS school reloads the Air Force with training on six major systems. These include the legacy ATC systems AN/GPN-20 airport surveillance radar for a 60 nautical-mile air picture, the AN/TPX-42 identification friend or foe and selective identification feature to provide numeric and symbolic displays representing the aircraft and the AN/GPN-22 precision approach radar to track and land inbound aircraft. In addition, students learn the deployable airborne control and warning radar AN/TPS-75 providing the theater air operations center with a 240 nautical-mile radius air display. Finally, newer digital ATC systems are introduced, including the digital airport surveillance radar that replaces the AN/GPN-20 ASR and the standard terminal automation replacement system. The STARS is a fully automated ATC computerized wide area network incorporating up to 16 radar system inputs and is expandable to accommodate future Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration upgrades. Although the 2E0X1 AFSC is now history, the new 3D1X5 ground radar AFSC carries on with graduates of Class 10001, which ironically, due to course length changes, graduates one day before the last 2E0X1 class. Regardless of AFSC, both classes will stay the course and deliver relevant training to the Air Force. As commander of the 338th TRS, Lt. Col. Daniel Gottrich encourages students from day one to graduation to "STAY," which stands for stay healthy (physically and mentally), stay out of trouble and stay focused on academics. "Persevere where others have not and realize that your training has not stopped here...it has only just begun. Now go out and do great things for our Air Force," he said.