Airmen Spotlight – Flight Engineer Instructor

Published Sept. 8, 2016
By Tech. Sgt. Theo Ramsey
139th Airlift Wing

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Staff Sgt. Taylor Schoen of the 180th Airlift Squadron recently completed Flight Engineer Instructor School as one of the youngest ever to graduate.

Schoen joined the Air National Guard at Rosecrans ANG Base at age 17 back in 2009. He spent four years as a crew chief, became a flight engineer in 2013. Schoen was selected for instructor school two years later, which Schoen says is pretty much unheard of and was an absolute honor.

"I went to instructor school with about 650 flying hours," Schoen said, "I was paired up with guys with 3000 hours, which was challenging."

To be eligible for flight instructor school, Schoen was run through a gauntlet of tests. He was required to prepare outlines and delivery instruction each day to flight engineer instructors for 30 different flight systems. Schoen said it took about six months to complete.

Schoen knew he always wanted to be in the Air Force and was encouraged by a family friend to look into the Air National Guard. Schoen fell in love with Rosecrans and the idea of the Guard right away.

Schoen graduated from Liberty High School in 2010. He is currently attending night classes at Park University majoring in Marketing and is considering pursuing a commission.