Combat Comm readies Airmen for deployments

  • Published
  • By Capt. Erin Dorrance
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
BITBURG AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  Driving convoys, building defense fighting positions and throwing elbows in hand-to-hand combat were all incorporated into the combat readiness course here Oct. 20 to 27.

The 1st Combat Communications Squadron trained 33 newcomers at the mandatory course, which prepares the Airmen for hostile locations.

"Eighty percent of the squadron is the rank of senior airman and below, including several first-term Airmen," said Lt. Col. Joe Sublousky, 1st CBCS squadron commander. "I want to ensure 1st CBCS Airmen are trained for austere and hostile environments before they are deployed."

The course is designed to teach Airmen the basics of how to set up tents, keep bugs out of their combat boots and paint their face with camouflage paint. Once Airmen have set up their camp and a defense perimeter, more combat-oriented skills are tested to include self aid and buddy care, convoy driving, a hostile enemy weapons search and operating in chemical warfare gear, said Colonel Sublousky.

Courses are run by a full-time cadre team of seven 1st CBCS experts, said Master Sgt. Raymond Lara, 1st CBCS Cadre NCO in charge. The cadre's job is to provide realistic training to squadron members while ensuring their safety.

The cadre uses the help of opposition forces, or OPFOR, to run scenarios by the course's Airmen. The opposition forces are volunteers from 1st CBCS that have completed the course and understand how vital the realistic training is to their co-workers.

The motivated volunteers dress in realistic costumes and prepare each other with moulage makeup to simulate injuries so course attendees can treat them with self aid and buddy care, said Sergeant Lara.

"This course is successful because of the realism our experts add to prepare new Airmen for the deployed environment they could soon encounter. Everyone excels at what they have been trained to do," said Colonel Sublousky.