Engineers and security forces team up in combat skills training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Scotty Sweatt
  • 916th SFS
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, NC --  The location is an undisclosed area in the Middle East. The mission is to conduct a convoy operation from home base to 'Base B,' an outpost in need of re-supply. 

While en route to Base B, military members received information that the base was attacked and their convoy diverted. They were too far from home base to turn back, so they diverted to an abandoned U.S. Army Logistics Support area, they set-up defenses and awaited further instructions. 

Sound like a story on the evening news? Well, it could be, but not this time.
This scenario did not actually play out in the Middle East; rather it is played out time and again right here on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base by the Expeditionary Combat Skills Training Program instructors as they train non-combat troops on combat skills potentially needed in the Area of Responsibility. 

The ECST is a program developed to ensure that as security forces personnel are tasked with patrolling outside of the base perimeter, other career fields not normally tasked with direct combat operations have the skills to defend themselves and complete their missions. The program came into existence at Seymour Johnson about 18 months ago and is a mandated program for active duty units on Air Combat Command bases.
Major Jeffrey Poupart, commander of the 916th Security Forces Squadron noted that "It's essential to have trained defenders ready to provide protection for each other and their work centers; everyone plays a part in integrated base defense." 

Recently, and for the first time, ECST instructors provided training for a 916th Air Refueling Wing squadron. The 916th Civil Engineer Squadron participated in a two day training program teaching them a number of valuable combat skills, including everything from convoy operations and handling opposing forces to dealing with local residents of a community. 

Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Williams, cadre, said that the training scenario was only about half scripted to allow for reactions based on the actions of the trainees. He gave an example of this training method, saying that if in the training scenario an otherwise friendly local chieftain from a nearby tribe visits the base and is treated rudely, aggressively and unprofessionally, that shortly after the encounter the base will be hit with mortar fire or a direct fire attack. 

"We are ambassadors for the U.S., for democracy and for our way of life" said Sergeant Williams. 

He said that he wanted persons going through the course to realize that while their primary responsibility is for the safety of their unit, that aggression is not always the best solution. 

"We're in their country" he added, "I try to think of it as reacting how I would want to be treated if it were someone in my country". 

The training was especially noteworthy for another reason as well as it being the first time reservists were trained. Many of the cadre came from the 916th SFS.
Sergeant Williams is also the 916th SFS operations superintendent, and teaches the course as part of his full-time job at the base. 

"My two worlds collided and it was the coolest thing," said Sergeant Williams about his position." Being a reservist myself, I was really happy to be training our people." 

He also noted that while the program is mandated by ACC and has existed primarily for training active duty personnel; his group was happy to oblige the Reserve wing and excited by the opportunity when approached by Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Jarvis, 916th CES, operations superintendent. 

Civil Engineer members were very positive about the training they received during the July unit training assembly. 

"The best training I've had in the eight years I've been here," said Master Sgt. Robert Stephens, 916th CES, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration supervisor. 

Many CE troops agreed the training needed to be completed yearly. 

Senior Master Sgt. Timmy Smith, 916th CES, electrical systems superintendent, appreciated the training for his troops and had nothing but praise their motivation and for the professionalism of instructors, "I think it's been excellent, it's come around for the Reserve," he said. "We need this, we've been needing this. They've (the instructors) done a great job, it was very well planned out."