BEAST almost ready for longer basic training

[unhappycamper]

BEAST almost ready for longer basic training
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Sep 29, 2008 6:40:54 EDT

A new field training site for the soon-to-be-expanded Basic Military Training course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is about 80 percent complete and will be finished in the coming weeks, according to the commander who oversees BMT.

The site — called the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training, or BEAST, facility — is designed to simulate a forward operating base to which airmen might deploy in the Middle East, said Col. Edward Westermann, 737th Training Group commander.

Starting with the class that enters BMT on Nov. 3, each class will spend five days at the BEAST during its sixth week of training, learning expeditionary skills and living in the field.

The BEAST site consists of four zones with 10 tents each. Each zone will be self-contained and operate as a mini-FOB, Westermann said.

“I think this is as realistic … as we can get here at BMT,” he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/09/airforce_basic_092908w/%2e