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Dover AFB

Airman 1st Class Rhonda Russell, 436th Medical Support Squadron, fires an M-16A2 at the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance firing range April 6, 2011, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. This was part of Expeditionary Combat Skills Training, which is a prerequisite for deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob Morgan)

Dover AFB

Four members of Expeditionary Combat Skills Training class advance their tactical position while scanning the area for enemy fire during Mobile Operations and Urban Terrain training at Base X April 8, 2011, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. This was part of Expeditionary Combat Skills Training, which is a prerequisite for deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob Morgan)

Dover AFB

Master Sgt. Tom Dicuirci, 436th Maintenance Squadron, aims a M-16A2 while participating in Mobile Operations and Urban Terrain training at Base X April 8, 2011, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. This was part of Expeditionary Combat Skills Training, which is a prerequisite for deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Steve Kotecki)

Dover AFB

Senior Airman Frank Brooks, 436th Aerial Port Squadron, clears a corner to ensure the area is safe for his fire-team to continue the mission April 8, 2011, in Base X at Dover Air Force Base, Del. This was part of Expeditionary Combat Skills Training, which is a prerequisite for deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Steve Kotecki)

Dover AFB

Tech. Sgt. Erick Delsite, 436th Maintenance Squadron, executes a S-A-L-U-T-E report (size, activity, location, unit, time and equipment) of the situation his fire team encountered April 8, 2011 in Base X at Dover Air Force Base, Del. This was part of Expeditionary Combat Skills Training, which is a prerequisite for deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Steve Kotecki)

Dover AFB

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Best, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Tech Sgt. Erick Delsite, 436th Maintenance Squadron, carry a litter weighing more than 150 pounds April 8, 2011 in Base X at Dover Air Force Base, Del. This was part of Expeditionary Combat Skills Training, which is a prerequisite for deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Steve Kotecki)

Team Dover members prepare for deployment

Published April 12, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Jacob Morgan
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The class is four days long and teaches everything from self aid and buddy care to roadside bomb recognition.

Beginning on a Tuesday and ending on a Friday, Expeditionary Combat Skills Training at Dover Air Force Base, Del., has more than 20 classes per year and more than 25 students per class.

"We aren't trying to teach how to kick in doors," said Staff Sgt. Troy Umstead, 436th Security Forces Squadron ECST assistant program manager. "We are teaching you how to survive if the stuff hits the fan."

The training is mandatory for all Airmen at Dover AFB except explosive ordinance disposal, security forces and the flying career fields. Members must attend the training within 60 days of deployment to a hostile environment. In 2010, more than 635 Airmen from Dover AFB where trained before their deployment.

ECST starts with a self-aid-and-buddy-care class where trained medical personnel from the 436th Medical Group teach a hands-on course in how to handle emergency medical situations, said Sergeant Umstead. The day continues with "shoot-no-shoot" scenarios encompassing rules of engagement, AF Instruction 31-207 "Arming and Use of Force by Air Force Personnel" and operations security.

Wednesday is M-16/M-4 qualification day. Rifle qualification is required for more than 90 percent of deploying members and the training is held at Combat Arms Training and Maintenance. The test is comprised of 50 shots at a target down range. There are five positions to shoot from; prone supported, prone unsupported, kneeling, standing over barricade and gas mask prone supported.

Members who qualify move on to the next day, which is a build-up to the field training at the end of ECST, said Sergeant Umstead. Thursday covers a plethora of events including range estimation, roadside bomb recognition, defensive fighting positions, individual and group tactical movements and challenging procedures.

"Friday is the culminating event," said Sergeant Umstead. "Mobile Operations and Urban Terrain is followed by a challenging obstacle course."

The goal of the obstacle course to provide a stressful environment that presents a more realistic view of how difficult it could be to use combat skills, as a team of two under fire. The course starts with a low crawl/high crawl scenario and an assault through a barricade. This is followed by an area called "malfunction junction" where members must fix jammed rifles while under duress. The course ends with a rush-and-roll and a 75-yard carry of a litter that weighs more than 150 pounds.

Sergeant Umstead said his goal is to leave members a little bit more combat oriented than when they showed up.

The ECST staff is consistently trying to find ways to improve the course. The staff sends out critiques to the members who just took the class and the feedback from classes is considered.

"The obstacle course was an idea given to us by an ECST graduate," said Sergeant Umstead. "This is an evolving course."

The class is only four days long, however, it makes an impact on those who attend it.

"It's awesome, I learned a lot," said Master Sgt. Tom Dicuirci, 436th Maintenance Squadron production superintendant. "My confidence level is boosted. I feel I could help a fellow Airman out."