Illinois boomer completes NCOLDP Published March 21, 2007 By Senior Airman Mark Orders-Woempner 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. Paul Sherrod recently graduated the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Development Course here at Grissom. The NCOLDP is a 10-day course designed to give junior NCOs training in management and leadership. Sergeant Sherrod, a Batavia, Ill., native, is an in-flight refueling technician with the 74th Air Refueling Squadron and has been in the Air Force Reserve for 15 years. In his civilian life, he is a firefighter and paramedic for the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Department. He is the son of Sandra Lamm of Middle Sex, N.C. Sergeant Sherrod is a graduate of Batavia High School, Batavia, Ill., and is a resident of DeKalb, Ill. The NCOLDP consists of both civilian and military instructors who teach management skills and management theory. Students must also learn to problem solve by dealing with various problems with base programs and recommending solutions. The 74th ARS is one of two flying units assigned to the 434th Air Refueling Wing. The mission of the 74th ARS is to train and provide KC-135R Stratotanker aircrew members in support of the Air Mobility Command and the aerial refueling mission. In a typical year, the squadron and its personnel will travel to numerous global destinations to carry out the air-refueling mission. As an in-flight refueling technician, Sergeant Sherrod is directly responsible for the operation of equipment in the KC-135R Stratotanker that connects the two aircraft in-flight so fuel can be transferred. He is also trained as a loadmaster, ensuring that cargo carried in the tanker is properly loaded, configured and secured for flight.
