ECST provides Airmen a necessary training opportunity

Published March 29, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
92nd ARW Public Affairs Office

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Elbows and knees bruise as each limb acts as a claw in the earth. Protective gear encases the body on the ground, an M-16 in hand. The pack progresses together as they inch onward in the field.

Effort. Communication. Teamwork. Leadership. These are words that exemplify the monthly two-day Expeditionary Combat Skills Training that took place March 7-8. The course teaches basic combat skills necessary to prepare deploying Airmen for accomplishing missions overseas.

The course began in October 2005 after combat theater commanders expressed their concern about how their troops were reacting to combat situations.They needed to know that Airmen could respond to the conditions, said the 92nd Security Forces Squadron's J. Colt, an ECST instructor.

Fairchild was the first base in Air Mobility Command to initiate the 19-hour course, which follows basic curriculum provided by the Air Force Security Forces Center.

With a combined 60 years of experience in defensive skills among Fairchild's ECST instructors, they add as much information from their own personal experiences to the course as possible to give the Airmen an idea of what may occur while deployed.

The first day involves instruction in a classroom environment. The first topic covered is weapons basics with an M-16 rifle. They review loading, unloading, cleaning and inspecting the rifle. The class also covers SPORTS, an acronym for the troubleshooting process that is used in the event the weapon fails to fire.

Any extra time spent handling a weapon increases confidence with the weapon and practice makes perfect, said Mr. Colt. In a combat environment, with rushing adrenaline, it is difficult to function without the necessary practice beforehand. The course engages the importance of being able to do the simple things.

Other classroom topics include basic reporting skills, how to wear issued protective gear effectively, how to use force, as well as when and when not to fire a weapon.

"It's important to learn when you can shoot your weapon and when you shouldn't. Even then, they need to know that it isn't always shooting to kill or injure. It is shooting to stop the act," said Mr. Colt.

The first day also includes instruction on defensive fighting positions and how they continuously evolve the longer they are in use, along with integrated base defense and the teamwork needed to defend an installation.

Day two consists of the field training exercises in which the students are able to apply the classroom knowledge and employ the concept of shoot, move and communicate. Mr. Colt states this is a key component to being effective in a hostile environment.

This portion of the class allows the students to get a hands-on feeling of what they learned in the classroom and more. They learn to become one with the dirt and how that can save them. They put on the protective gear and are issued weapons and blanks. Out in the field, there are role-playing opposing forces and simulated explosions to create a more realistic environment.

Throughout the course, instructors place a significant emphasis on teamwork, leadership and communication.

"Teamwork is not a part of the curriculum, but it plays such a huge role in a team's ability to fight and defend," Mr. Colt said. "There is a whole different level of teamwork and dependency on each other. You have to know your troops and teammates. It's the necessity to understand someone's needs by a simple glance."

The troops are introduced to simple combat tactics and decision making they may not be used to. They are stressed to the point of finding out what they are capable of and to emphasize the importance of leadership, even in the lower ranks.

ECST requires Airmen to set aside their regular daily duties, whether it be aircraft maintenance, communication, or any other job, and train for the inevitable deployment.

"Every day, every one of us should become more combat-oriented and that takes some effort," said Mr. Colt. "Because you are only as fast as your slowest man, everyone should stay in shape and keep that lifestyle, just as everyone should be able to make the 'right now' decisions."

Mistakes are made, but that is what training is for. Since the program's inception, approximately 500 weary Airmen have trudged off the field, replaying any mistakes in their minds and learning from them. Though these Airmen may have been tired from the energy exerted, they were more prepared for what their future than they were two days before.