Erard assumes command of Reserve MTI Squadron

Master Sgt. Mark Mendez welcomes in-person and online guests to the Aug. 7 assumption of command ceremony held at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, during which Lt. Col. Anthony P. Erard accepted command from Col. Michael J. Vanzo, 340th Flying Training Group commander, (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)

Erard assumes command of Reserve MTI Squadron

Master Sgt. Faith Hall, 340th Flying Training Group financial management directorate, sings the national anthem to open the 433rd Training Squadron assumption of command ceremony, held Aug. 7 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, when Lt. Col. Anthony P. Erard accepted command from Col. Michael J. Vanzo, 340th FTG commander. Also pictured with the guidon is the 433rd TRS military training instructor recruiter and acting first sergeant, Master Sgt. Robert Elliott. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)

Erard assumes command of Reserve MTI Squadron

Chap. (Capt.) Tamer Sayedahmed, basic military training chaplain at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, offers the invocation prior to the 433rd Training Squadron's assumption of command ceremony Aug. 7. at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, when Lt. Col. Anthony P. Erard accepted command from 340th Flying Training Group Commander Col. Michael J. Vanzo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Johnny Saldivar)

Erard assumes command of Reserve MTI Squadron

Lt. Col. Anthony Erard (center) poses for a photo with 340th Flying Training Group Commander Col. Michael Vanzo (left) and 737th Training Group commander Col. Michael Newsom, following the 433rd Training Squadron assumption of command ceremony held Aug. 7 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Debbie Gildea)

Erard assumes command of Reserve MTI Squadron

Lt. Col. Anthony Erard (center) poses for a photo with 340th Flying Training Group Commander Col. Michael Vanzo (left), 737th Training Group commander Col. Michael Newsom (second from far right) and Chief Master Sgt. Learie Gaitan, 737th Training Group superintendent, following the 433rd Training Squadron assumption of command ceremony held Aug. 7 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Debbie Gildea)

Erard assumes command of Reserve MTI Squadron

Published Aug. 11, 2020
By Debbie Gildea

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-Randolph, Texas – Lt. Col. Anthony Erard assumed command of the 433rd Training Squadron Aug. 7 during a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, officiated by 340th Flying Training Group Commander Col. Michael J. Vanzo.

Formerly the 433rd TRS director of operations, as commander of the all-Reserve military training instructor squadron, Erard and his team, in cooperation with Air Education and Training Command's active duty basic military training teams, are responsible for Air Force Reserve support of the Total Force Integration mission of developing and maintaining an integrated cadre of highly qualified Reserve military training instructors in support of U.S. Air Force basic military training operations. He leads a cadre of traditional Reserve, Active Guard Reserve, and Air Reserve Technician military training instructors.

Erard earned his commission through Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 2002, transitioning to the Air Force Reserve in 2012, after 10 years of Regular Air Force service as an F-15E weapon systems officer and electronic warfare officer. The colonel has more than 1,000 flying hours in six airframes, and served as an instructor in two of those airframes, amassing 315 combat hours in the F-15E supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

The 433rd TRS is one of seven squadrons assigned to the 340th FTG, and is the only all-Reserve military training instructor squadron in the Air Force.