First Sergeants meet the BEAST at basic training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hickey
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis-St. Paul --  Chief Master Sgt. Mark A. Koenig, command chief of the 934th Airlift Wing, and four first sergeants from the 934th AW, visited Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas for a rebluing tour, Mar. 16-18.

Senior Master Sgt. Vicky Kuntz, 1st Sgt for the 96th Airlift Squadron, Master Sgt. Jon Schmidt, 1st Sgt for the 934th Logistical Readiness Squadron, Master Sgt. David LeBeause, 1st Sgt for the 934 Force Support Squadron, and Master Sgt. Barry Haukoos, 1stSgt for the 934th Security Forces Squadron accompanied Chief Koenig on the tour.
Chief Koenig pioneered the rebluing tour to familiarize the first sergeants with the training and molding methods the newest Airmen now receive at Basic Military Training, he said. He hopes the results to be improved understanding of Airmen performance expectations.

Prior to the rebluing tour, Koenig and the first sergeants discussed a growing sense of disconnect between themselves, as senior enlisted leaders, and the newest members of the Air Force. In response to that discussion, Chief Koenig suggested a rebluing, which he defines as, 'going back to square one,' in order to re-familiarize themselves with core Air Force principles, basic elements, or building blocks.

"I felt a need to get our first sergeants in touch with the newer society Airmen," he said. "There has been so much dynamic change to the doctrine of the basic training program that I'm not certain that leadership at the unit levels is in tune with the new type of Airmen the basic training group is putting out."

The chief and the first sergeants traveled to Lackland AFB and began their tour at 8:30 a.m. Weds., Mar. 16. They were escorted by military training instructors from the 319th Training Squadron during their three-day tour. Tech. Sgt Troy Shatto, an MTI with 319 TRS, greeted the leadership team at the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills and Training site, also known as BEAST.

The group quickly observed important differences between their own experiences at basic training, ranging from 20 to 30 years ago. The BEAST was an eye-opening experience for the group.

BEAST is a trainee-led and tactical training platform which spans over 200 acres. All new Air Force recruits must now successfully negotiate BEAST during their 6th week at BMT in order to graduate.

According to the Air Force Times, BEAST spans four days of the expanded 8½-week basic training program and is perhaps the most visible sign that the Air Force is adapting its training to the realities of fighting counterinsurgencies that require Airmen to deploy to forward areas. At any given time, between 4,000 and 5,000 Airmen are deployed to Southwest Asia to fill roles formerly held by soldiers and Marines. Airmen are now increasingly responsible for patrolling the areas around their expeditionary bases, and BEAST is a reflection the new reality.

Chief Koenig and the first sergeants feel their experience at Lackland has opened their eyes to the expanded capabilities of today's new Airmen.

"They are much better prepared to face our current world, our current Air Force demands, than we ever were," he said. "They are learning all of this field condition type stuff, including alarm signals, alarm sounds, MOPP conditions. It's almost like they are doing an ORI."

An Operational Readiness Inspection, or ORI, is one of the Air Force's test measures on the effectiveness of command and control, leadership, and mission execution, said Koenig. An ORI is not something he felt he became really familiar with until he was a staff sergeant.

New Air Force recruits, who now must graduate from BMT before earning the title of Airman, receive more infantry-based training than ever before to prepare them for deployment to forward areas. This training also includes weapons training, self aid and buddy care, and indoctrination on the Wingman concept.

"It's a very high-stress, high-demand environment, which simulates deployment conditions," said Koenig. "That in itself is miles ahead."
The first sergeants observed significant differences between their BMT experiences and today's training environment.

"I only had 6 weeks of training," Master Sgt. LaBeause said. "and no M-16 training whatsoever. Then I went into security forces, and I got all my training there for that part."
Practical application and realistic contingency situations mark current basic training for Airmen today, which set it apart from past training.

"I was very impressed with how fluid the training was, and how current and up-to-date compared to when I went back then," said Senior Master Sgt. Kuntz. "It just didn't seem like what we were being trained on would really happen. It didn't relate to the current events."

Master Sgt. Schmidt describes his basic training experience as "very academic."
"I want to say it was more of a 'ok, we're going to do this, and then this, and then this' he said. "Very much like a cookie cutter-mold-kind of deal."
Unlike today's training, which emphasizes the development of creative problem solving skills in highly stressful, uncertain environments.
"The TIs were there for motivation and safety," Schmidt said, "but everything else was ran and done by trainees."
Recruits are now given instructions like 'Ok, here is the situation, what is the best way to get it done?', Schmidt said.

Chief Koenig and the first sergeants are now considering how best to use their new knowledge about the newest Airmen graduating from BMT as they join the unit.
Senior Master Sgt. Kuntz will look to provide new Airmen with opportunities to show her they can be leaders, she said.

"I want to be able to say we've got this situation to handle, take it and let's see what you come up with," she said. "These kids coming in, they are very intelligent."
"I echo that too," said Master Sgt. Schmidt. "I think it gives you more of a sense of accomplishment if you are the one who is making the decisions and making the call."

Chief Koenig and the first sergeants want to keep the high level of motivation and military professionalism of the 934th's newest Airmen, who are joining from BMT, intact. This will mean counseling them to set an example for others.

"No matter what people tell you, because they tell you, 'you need to pipe down or you need to relax', no," said Master Sgt. LaBeause. "Let's keep up with your intensity, and we will make everybody come to you."

"I better know what they are capable of," said Senior Master Sgt. Kuntz. "and I'm going to put the expectation of being the role model in their area.
This will mean telling them, "don't change and don't lower yourself. Be the role model for every else to step up to so don't lose what you learned," she said.