Airmen start deployment training early

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kristy Rochon
  • 88th Air Base Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Members of air expeditionary forces nine and 10 here began preparing for their deployment by learning essential combat skills.

The 88th Air Base Wing readiness section started the expeditionary combat skills training course last month to cover the 19 hours of training troops need before deploying.

"This is the third generation of training," said Lt. Col. Ronald Deak, wing readiness chief. "The Air Force chief of staff has mandated that all Air Force (members) deploying must have basic combat skills."

Some of the skills include training on convoy operations, rifle fighting and improvised explosive devises. The program's goal is to equip Airmen with the skills needed to support the global war on terrorism and to contribute more effectively in the joint environment.

Maj. Armin Sayson, the base AEF readiness development chief, said the program should not be taken lightly.

"Folks need to take this serious," he said. "We wear the uniform, and the lives of people we work with depend on us -- even though it's not within our every day job to carry weapons."

It's also a family affair for Major Sayson. His son, Senior Airman Chris Sayson, an avionics, instrument and controls specialist at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, attended all classroom training sessions to help facilitate the training.

"To successfully conduct the training, I rely heavily on a total force (group of) volunteer instructors to teach the various topics and to facilitate the course," the major said.

Major Sayson coordinated with Capt. James Henderson to develop the briefings and to coordinate with base units to provide the trainers and materials needed to expose the Airmen to their specialties. The major Wright-Patterson contributors have been 88th Security Forces Squadron, 88th Medical Group and 88th Communications Group.

The training is now mandatory for all deploying wing members. The wing also provides training to all tenant units.

"Supervisors decide who has to come," said Maj. Sayson.

The training begins in the classroom, but is then taken into the field to evaluate the student's proficiencies. The field training exercise is scheduled for Nov. 14 to 19.

"These skills are conducted over two days of classroom training, one day of deployment operations, a day and a half of training in the field and a half day of combat exercises with base attacks," Colonel Deak said.

(Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)