CommunityEditor
10-01-2008, 03:54 AM
A new field training site for the soon-to-be-expanded Basic Military Training course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is about 80 percent complete and will be finished in the coming weeks, according to the commander who oversees BMT.
The site — called the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training, or BEAST, facility — is designed to simulate a forward operating base to which airmen might deploy in the Middle East, said Col. Edward Westermann, 737th Training Group commander.
Starting with the class that enters BMT on Nov. 3, each class will spend five days at the BEAST during its sixth week of training, learning expeditionary skills and living in the field.
The BEAST site consists of four zones with 10 tents each. Each zone will be self-contained and operate as a mini-FOB, Westermann said.
“I think this is as realistic … as we can get here at BMT,” he said.
The site also has a 1½-mile improvised explosive device trail so airmen can practice spotting roadside bombs and an airstrip the airmen will learn to secure.
Airmen will also learn to respond to simulated air and ground attacks.
BMT expands from six weeks to 8½ weeks with the class beginning Nov. 3, but the first group of more than 800 students will not arrive at the BEAST course until Dec. 15.
Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/09/airforce_basic_092908w/
The site — called the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training, or BEAST, facility — is designed to simulate a forward operating base to which airmen might deploy in the Middle East, said Col. Edward Westermann, 737th Training Group commander.
Starting with the class that enters BMT on Nov. 3, each class will spend five days at the BEAST during its sixth week of training, learning expeditionary skills and living in the field.
The BEAST site consists of four zones with 10 tents each. Each zone will be self-contained and operate as a mini-FOB, Westermann said.
“I think this is as realistic … as we can get here at BMT,” he said.
The site also has a 1½-mile improvised explosive device trail so airmen can practice spotting roadside bombs and an airstrip the airmen will learn to secure.
Airmen will also learn to respond to simulated air and ground attacks.
BMT expands from six weeks to 8½ weeks with the class beginning Nov. 3, but the first group of more than 800 students will not arrive at the BEAST course until Dec. 15.
Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/09/airforce_basic_092908w/