Combat skills training prepares security forces

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dwight Hawkins
  • Air Force News Agency
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNEWS) --  The 60th Security Forces Squadron here offers a two-day expeditionary combat skills training course to prepare Airmen for deployments.

"(We want to) give the students a set of basic skills to work with so if they ever encounter a force protection scenario, it'll give them that basic skill set to act appropriately and within the bounds of use of force and rules of engagement," said Tech. Sgt. Tyler Brown, course instructor.

The first day of the training involves classroom instruction where Airmen learn about various combat skills, including squad, team and personal movements such as low and high crawl, and the use of force.

On day two, students get the chance to apply the skills they learned in the classroom.

Filling non-traditional roles was quite an adjustment for many of these Airmen, especially leading a team on patrol.

"At first it was kind of scary because you don't want to put your team in harm's way and that possibility is there if you make the wrong turn or move," said Senior Master Sgt. Martha Wilkinson, one of the trainees.

Airmen at Travis are required to attend combat skills training once every 20 months. More than 300 Airmen have gone through the training since it began last December. 

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