Couple of AMMOS grads right here

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Vann Miller
  • 35th Fighter Wing public affairs
Few organizations across the Air Force have people who've graduated from a specialized school like the Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, and with only three classes per year, it's easy to see how this advanced training is a rare honor. But, as rare as it may be for a base to have two graduates from this advanced school, a couple of its alumni share one other thing in common -- they're married. Air Force officers, Mr. and Mrs. Tooman are also Captain and Major Tooman assigned to Misawa Air Base, Japan. 

Capt. Christopher Tooman, a recent graduate from the AMMOS, is assigned to the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as the assistant maintenance operations officer.
He graduated from the specialized training class Wednesday and said the training has given him an understanding on how every organization plays a role in accomplishing a wing's mission. 

The AMMOS, located at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is a 14 week course which teaches maintenance officers how to expand combat capabilities using six key concepts: readying the force, preparing the battle space, positioning, employing, sustaining and recovering the force. 

Captain Tooman said knowing someone who understands all he has learned recently is an added advantage and enjoys sharing this experience with his wife. 

"She can understand the rigors of the course, the job and the profession," said Captain Tooman. "I appreciate having such a successful and supportive wife to bounce ideas off about professional decisions as well as our personal decisions." 

Maj. Kimberly Tooman is not only the 35th Maintenance Operations Squadron commander, she is a graduate of the first AMMOS class from a few years ago. 

According to Maj. Tooman, the class selection is very competitive. 

"It was the most difficult Air Force course I've been through," she said. "The school's cadre is an outstanding group of logistics and maintenance professionals." 

As Maj. Tooman prepared for an upcoming deployment to Iraq, she took some time off to travel to her husband's graduation, noting how proud she was of his accomplishment. 

"I am so blessed to have a husband that not only understands the job and the career demands, but who now has the same great experience of attending AMMOS," she said. 

With his wife's upcoming deployment and the demands of the job, Capt. Tooman said he understands the unique difficulties he and his wife face as maintenance officers. 

"It has its challenges," he said. "With conflicting deployments, long duty hours and the challenge of being able to match up assignments, but overall, I love being able to share my entire life with her."