'In lieu of' Airmen learn Soldier skills at Fort Bragg

  • Published
  • By Capt. Bob Everdeen
  • Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNEWS) --  Several hundred Airmen from varied skill sets are in the midst of three months of training at Fort Bragg, N.C., in preparation for a future deployment to Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan. The training is designed to teach basic Army ground maneuver skills. 

The Airmen from around the globe are training in a truly joint environment with Army, Navy and civilian personnel in a new, multi-million dollar forward operating base, or FOB, in a realistic, austere environment. 

"The theater immersion training here is designed to expose Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen to conditions they're likely to experience during their deployment," said Col. Dave Boslego, 78th Brigade commander at Fort Bragg. "Training at the FOB helps enhance unit cohesion, since the units that train together deploy together; it provides a setting for leaders to plan and execute." 

While the training is not designed to turn Airmen into "full-up" Soldiers, it is meant to give trainees the skills they need in a "changing world," Colonel Boslego said. 

"This type of unit doesn't exist in the force structure of any of the armed services," he said. "The Department of Defense has adapted to the changing needs of the theater and offered training on a joint basis, including interagency organizations. This helps everyone understand each other before deploying and helps set the teams up for success from day one in theater." 

Team cohesion is crucial for success in Afghanistan. The Provincial Reconstruction Teams are designed to provide a stable and secure environment for Afghans to accomplish effective governance and economic and social development. In short, the goal is capacity building so Afghans can stand on their own with a strong central government. 

PRTs do this by working with coalition NATO and joint forces, as well as government and non-government aid agencies in the country. For example, one PRT in training will deploy to Qalat, Afghanistan, later this year. The commander of the PRT will be in charge of Air Force and Army personnel and report to a Danish general who commands the Southern Region Command. 

"PRTs are extremely unique," said Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Fischer, future PRT Qalat commander. "Our military services have blended numerous specialized skill sets to create these teams. Add NATO forces and daily engagements with senior Afghan officials and you quickly have a joint and coalition operation. It is an awesome responsibility and an opportunity I'm really looking forward to." 

"We're definitely multi-cultural, multi-military and multi-national," said Lt. Col. Robert Burton, Air Force Detachment Support Team commander for PRT training. "I don't think you could get too many more pieces of the world into this than what we've got right now. It shows the world's commitment to Afghanistan -- that we're there for the long haul." 

The majority of the servicemembers currently in PRT training at Fort Bragg are volunteers. They've come from active duty, Reserves, National Guard and Individual Ready Reserves. 

"I'd been in IRR for nearly three years," said Army Capt. Darius Hill, who works as a Florida police officer in his civilian job. "While I didn't forsee me wearing an Army uniform again, when I got the letter about this deployment, I knew it was something I had to do." 

PRTs are a critical piece of the larger global war on terrorism. In his most recent address, President George W. Bush specifically highlighted PRTs with an emphasis on doubling the PRT force structure in Iraq. The people who fill the PRT positions are immensely important. 

"Today, Airmen are thinking of themselves as expeditionary warriors," Colonel Burton said. 

"The volunteers here at Fort Bragg represent the very finest Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen from their respective services," Colonel Boslego echoed. "They're smart, hardworking and can adapt to a variety of changing conditions." 

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