Airmen hone warrior skills at CST

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. LuCelia Ball
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "I'm up, they see me, I'm down." 

This was the mantra an Expeditionary Combat Skills Training instructor advised sixty-one Eglin Airmen to repeat as they faced a new challenge April 20 by tackling a simulated battlefield. 

The objective on this particular day was for the Airmen to travel in teams of ten to cross the field while defending themselves against enemy snipers possibly bearing explosives. In addition, the field boasted sandbag barriers to move around and barbed wire to move under or over. 

"The challenge is for them to move as a team, keep up their communication and demonstrate the skills they've learned," said Master Sgt. Tamie Fox, 96th Mission Support Squadron unit deployment monitor and CST administrator. 

Those skills included troop movement, weapons handling, proper wear of equipment, combat skills and fighting positions. 

This is the third CST class to be completed over the past several weeks, and many more Eglin Airmen will hone their skills before May is over. The training is mandatory for all Airmen who are scheduled to deploy into Central Air Forces' area of responsibility. 

"The purpose of the class is to make all Airmen proficient and comfortable with handling a weapon and working within a team to defend themselves, their team and their mission," said Master Sgt. Lionell Poston, 96th Mission Support Squadron unit deployment monitor and CST administrator. 

The need for the class came about in 2005 when the Air Staff directed standardized pre-deployment training to ensure deploying Airmen arrived in the AOR with a basic competency in warfighting and contingency skills. 

The training is led by three instructors, all retired military with more than 50 years of military service between them, and two UDMs, who help to provide continuity and oversight of Air Staff directives. 

"We've come up with a lot of improvements just over three classes," said Master Sgt. Tamie Fox, CST administrator. "Security forces has been really helpful in helping us develop the battlefield and they've loaned us some dummies to simulate enemies." 

The first of the ten teams successfully maneuvered to the "safe zone," after encountering three snipers, one of whom tossed an explosive device. The first Airmen who spotted the device quickly simulated calling in a report to headquarters. 

"This is the first time I've experienced this type of training, aside from participating in base operational readiness exercises," said Staff Sgt. Glaze Grayson, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "These guys helped with the fine details of battle and it was really helpful to learn reporting and weapon functions. I absolutely feel more comfortable with carrying an M-16 now. I would recommend this class to anyone."