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ECST preps Airmen for deployments

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James Wilkinson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  "Do not depend on the enemy not coming, but depend on our readiness against him."

This principle, taken from Sun Tzu's The Art of War, written in the 2nd Century B.C., is being applied by the Air Force today to prepare Airmen for waging a new kind of war - the Global War on Terror.

Expeditionary Combat Skills Training, an Air Force-mandated training, is now one of the Air Force's latest methods of achieving Tzu's principle of readiness against the enemy.

"ECST is designed to help bring all Airmen to basic combat level," said Capt. Andrew Konzen, 436th Security Forces Squadron operations officer and ECST course director here. "The Air Force is going through a transformation to an expeditionary mindset, and part of that culture change is helping develop Airmen in a combat environment to give them basic skills to allow them to survive and operate in a combat environment."

The program, initiated at Dover Air Force Base in December and has been offered on a monthly basis since March, is Air Force-directed training for all Airmen deploying to hostile environments overseas.

The most recent ECST course was held here July 10 - 13 and included Dover Airmen from a complete range of backgrounds using a multi-discipline approach and drawing from all Air Force specialties.

The course consists of a minimum of 19 hours of training divided between classroom instruction and "hands-on" field training.

In the classroom, Airmen learn self-aid and buddy care, weapons familiarization, individual and team combat tactics and radio procedures. Class time is used to familiarize and prepare students for field training.

During the field training, Airmen are provided an opportunity to gain confidence handling their weapons and defending their base.

"We're transforming into an expeditionary force with fewer state-side bases and we're going to deploy more often," said Captain Konzen. "(Airmen are) going to be moving into areas where there isn't a lot of security, and they're going to have to provide their own."

The field training concludes with a large, simulated attack in a battlefield scenario.

"Our objective here is to throw several different scenarios at them to force them to react," said the captain. "We simulate a combat battlefield environment to induce stress and confusion so that when they are deployed, they will be prepared to react."

To keep trainees on their feet, the instructors insert a variety of stresses such as enemy attacks, loud and distracting music, insurgent small-arms fire, simulated mortar explosions, and clouds of smoke.

"I feel and believe that we as Air Force members need to change our mindset and be prepared to be faced with these challenges that the other branches are faced with in Iraq," said Staff Sgt. Michael Perrault Jr., 436th Services Squadron client support administrator. "It is each and every one of our responsibilities to be prepared to react. This training gives a real-life, overall picture of what to expect."

Airmen have to learn to operate in a type of environment where they're going to have limited security forces working as a traditional air base defense force, said Captain Konzen.

Instead, all specialties must become a part of the defense force under a concept known as integrated base defense. IBD is an Air Force concept to integrate all the different elements that are on a base towards a common defensive plan.

"It is hard to tell if you are really ready until you are faced with the challenge," said Sergeant Perrault. "The most important thing is to get the tools necessary to function under these circumstances and then the rest is up to the individual to perform with poise and get the job done."

The sergeant said he would recommend this training to every Airman, and he feels more prepared to deploy as a result of the course.

"I truly feel (Airmen) don't get enough training for situations that we may (encounter)," Sergeant Perrault said. "This training gives a glimpse of what to expect, some useful tools of what to look for and how serious and important (our) mindset needs to be. I feel more comfortable in the basics of how to function and details of what to look for when faced with different situations."

Once the exercise is complete, the instructors debrief the trainees and provide guidance on how they did throughout the scenario, providing additional direction where needed.

The training also provides Airmen a realistic tool to gauge their readiness.

"I realized that if I had to defend my base, I will need to improve on my physical stamina and reaction times," said Staff Sgt. Leann Ross, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron storage and issue supervisor. "In the exercises, I was slow moving when low crawling, and I could barely breathe after the running and rolling. In a wartime environment, you have to be able to get it in gear and maintain a high level of performance or you're a danger not only to yourself, but to others in your unit. Needless to say, I have a lot of work to do before I deploy."

ECST is required before every deployment, regardless of how many times Airmen have completed the training.

"I'm not trying to create a bunch of Marines from some Air Force people; that would take me a couple months," said Captain Konzen. "We're here to make sure all Airmen who deploy come home safely. It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."