Cadets learn it’s a BEAR out there

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Matt Gilreath
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  For some people going to college, the summer months mean returning home for a break from school or finding a summer job. But that is not what is in store for more than 1,200 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets.

Cadets are receiving a crash course in setting up BEAR, or basic expeditionary airfield resources, on academy grounds as part of a bare base exercise, Global Engagement 2005.

Six groups of more than 200 cadets each will go through 10 days of training throughout the summer months, said Master Sgt. Aaron Sikes, 49th Materiel Maintenance Squadron’s electrical shop flight chief from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. As part of the course, cadets will learn different aspects of what it takes to set up the equipment on a bare base. This includes setting up tents, maintaining supply discipline, performing convoy security and setting up defensive fighting positions.

“This is a great opportunity for them to get their feet wet for a deployment,” Sergeant Sikes said. “It will give the upper classman a chance to develop their leadership skills and help them make better decisions after they graduate. When they deploy, they will have a few lessons learned in their back pocket to help them out.”

Cadets will go through four days of training to familiarize them on bed-down procedures before they actually go to the field.

This is Staff Sgt. Adam Kelley’s third time teaching the cadets. He is a 49th MMS electrical systems technician.

“The program gets better every year,” Sergeant Kelley said. “This year, the training will be even more in-depth (because of) the way we are fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. Most of the people teaching from the (squadron) have been over there, and we bring firsthand experience and can tell the cadets what to expect.”

The cadets will be given four more days of advance training to help them hone their skills in designing an airfield, defending the base, dealing with protestors and conducting mortuary affairs. They will even set up a tactical field exchange.

Sergeant Kelley said the last day of training is always the instructors’ favorite.

“The last day is when we get to put them to the test. We get to have our own little war with the cadets,” Sergeant Kelley said. “We can start the war anytime after midnight, and we’ll keep them running until dinnertime.

“It’s fun for us because we all get a chance to put on camouflage face paint and play the role of aggressor,” he said. “Some of the cadets are really good at air base ground defense, and they really get into it. That makes it even more fun for us because we have to think of a better way to get at them.”

When the war is over, the rookie warriors are usually rewarded with a well-earned steak dinner cooked by their services crew.

“It’s a nice way to wrap up 10 days of hard training,” Sergeant Sykes said.