thedrifter
12-03-06, 07:31 AM
Airmen adding combat skills
Tennessee base one of three considered for training site
By BILL POOVEY, Associated Press
December 3, 2006
MANCHESTER, Tenn. - In the past, the Air Force didn't offer its airmen much basic training in weapons or ground combat - maybe a half-day firing a rifle. That sort of fight was left to the Army and the Marines.
But faced with a different sort of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force has started teaching its airmen how to fight off convoy ambushes and survive shootouts.
To build on that effort, the Air Force plans to open its own Common Battlefield Airmen Training program at one of three existing bases.
The finalists are Arnold Air Force Base near Manchester, about 170 miles southwest of Knoxville; Moody Air Force Base at Valdosta, Ga.; and Barksdale Air Force Base at Bossier City, La.
The program would provide weapons training and survival skills to more than 14,400 airmen each year, and it would create 800 permanent jobs.
"More airmen are finding themselves on the ground, in harm's way, in situations such as convoy duty," said Joel Fortner, a spokesman for Arnold Air Force Base, about 65 miles southeast of Nashville. "This training is going to allow them to better defend themselves and work more cohesively with their sister service counterparts."
Fourteen airmen have been killed in action in Iraq, and _nine in Afghanistan, as of Nov. 28, according to Air Force records.
Staff Sgt. Isodoro Astran, stationed at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, spent only a few hours on the firing range during basic training.
But he got additional training in fighting off convoy attacks before going to Iraq for five months. Astran, 25, said his group was hit with improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, three times in Iraq, and he had to fire his weapon once at a vehicle that got too close to his convoy.
"The enemy is constantly evolving, and the more training you get the better chances of survival," Astran said.
The Common Battlefield Airmen Training program calls for airmen to take a 25-day course, with 10-hour days Monday through Friday.
Four years after startup, there should be about 1,800 airmen in the program at any given time. There will be 600 instructors and 200 support workers.
Air Force officials have started an environmental impact assessment for each of the three sites, and there will be meetings this month seeking public comment. A report will be given to Air Force leaders in early 2008 to select a site.
Projections show the Air Force would need 9,000 acres for field training, firing ranges, a 200-acre campus and more than 160 new buildings.
Richard McWhite, the National Environmental Policy Act manager at Arnold Air Force Base, said the training would not include tanks or artillery.
All three bases are competing for the site. Capt. Dustin Hart at Moody said the base was proud to be among the three finalists. Col. Daniel Charchian at Barksdale echoed that sentiment.
"We are working to provide the Air Force all the information it requests as it pertains to the CBAT program," Charchian said. "If Barksdale is chosen as the site, we are prepared to support the program in any way required."
Democratic U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, who has the Tennessee base in his district, said all the U.S. senators and representatives from Tennessee have sent letters to Air Force officials.
But no matter which base is chosen, the additional combat training is justified, he said.
"It just seems like you are almost putting someone in harm's way without adequate training," Davis said.
Michael Briggs, a spokesman for Air Force Education and Training Command environmental affairs, said Air Force leadership would make a _decision using a "fact-based study."
He said airmen are seeing more ground combat than ever before in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he believes the CBAT program will "provide a permanent course to provide the combat skills training that our airmen need."
Capt. Ann Carpenter said there would not be a cost projection for the program until after the site is selected.
Community leaders near Arnold are well aware of the potential economic impact, although no one is making predictions.
"We've got the land and we've got the weather," said Jeff Fishman, a member of the Arnold Community Council.
Ellie
Tennessee base one of three considered for training site
By BILL POOVEY, Associated Press
December 3, 2006
MANCHESTER, Tenn. - In the past, the Air Force didn't offer its airmen much basic training in weapons or ground combat - maybe a half-day firing a rifle. That sort of fight was left to the Army and the Marines.
But faced with a different sort of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force has started teaching its airmen how to fight off convoy ambushes and survive shootouts.
To build on that effort, the Air Force plans to open its own Common Battlefield Airmen Training program at one of three existing bases.
The finalists are Arnold Air Force Base near Manchester, about 170 miles southwest of Knoxville; Moody Air Force Base at Valdosta, Ga.; and Barksdale Air Force Base at Bossier City, La.
The program would provide weapons training and survival skills to more than 14,400 airmen each year, and it would create 800 permanent jobs.
"More airmen are finding themselves on the ground, in harm's way, in situations such as convoy duty," said Joel Fortner, a spokesman for Arnold Air Force Base, about 65 miles southeast of Nashville. "This training is going to allow them to better defend themselves and work more cohesively with their sister service counterparts."
Fourteen airmen have been killed in action in Iraq, and _nine in Afghanistan, as of Nov. 28, according to Air Force records.
Staff Sgt. Isodoro Astran, stationed at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, spent only a few hours on the firing range during basic training.
But he got additional training in fighting off convoy attacks before going to Iraq for five months. Astran, 25, said his group was hit with improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, three times in Iraq, and he had to fire his weapon once at a vehicle that got too close to his convoy.
"The enemy is constantly evolving, and the more training you get the better chances of survival," Astran said.
The Common Battlefield Airmen Training program calls for airmen to take a 25-day course, with 10-hour days Monday through Friday.
Four years after startup, there should be about 1,800 airmen in the program at any given time. There will be 600 instructors and 200 support workers.
Air Force officials have started an environmental impact assessment for each of the three sites, and there will be meetings this month seeking public comment. A report will be given to Air Force leaders in early 2008 to select a site.
Projections show the Air Force would need 9,000 acres for field training, firing ranges, a 200-acre campus and more than 160 new buildings.
Richard McWhite, the National Environmental Policy Act manager at Arnold Air Force Base, said the training would not include tanks or artillery.
All three bases are competing for the site. Capt. Dustin Hart at Moody said the base was proud to be among the three finalists. Col. Daniel Charchian at Barksdale echoed that sentiment.
"We are working to provide the Air Force all the information it requests as it pertains to the CBAT program," Charchian said. "If Barksdale is chosen as the site, we are prepared to support the program in any way required."
Democratic U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, who has the Tennessee base in his district, said all the U.S. senators and representatives from Tennessee have sent letters to Air Force officials.
But no matter which base is chosen, the additional combat training is justified, he said.
"It just seems like you are almost putting someone in harm's way without adequate training," Davis said.
Michael Briggs, a spokesman for Air Force Education and Training Command environmental affairs, said Air Force leadership would make a _decision using a "fact-based study."
He said airmen are seeing more ground combat than ever before in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he believes the CBAT program will "provide a permanent course to provide the combat skills training that our airmen need."
Capt. Ann Carpenter said there would not be a cost projection for the program until after the site is selected.
Community leaders near Arnold are well aware of the potential economic impact, although no one is making predictions.
"We've got the land and we've got the weather," said Jeff Fishman, a member of the Arnold Community Council.
Ellie