NEW FITNESS REQUIREMENTS - For joint expeditionary tasking airmen

  • Published
  • By Capt. Omar Villarreal
  • AETC Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Airmen preparing to attend Army-taught combat skills training prior to deploying to a joint expeditionary tasking in direct support of combatant commander or joint task force ground component missions are required to possess a current and passing fitness assessment, according to new Air Education and Training Command guidance.

The new standards, which had already applied to Air Force-taught combat airman skills training, took effect Feb. 1.

"Joint expeditionary training courses can range from 21 to 70 days, and are very physically demanding," said Lt. Gen. Douglas H. Owens, AETC vice commander. "Due to the physical demands of the courses and requests from Air Expeditionary Group commanders, Airmen will be required to have a passing fitness assessment on record before attending CST."

Col. Chuck Douglass, 602nd Training Group (Provisional) commander, said that Airmen who attend CST are put through an intense simulation of what they may experience while deployed and must be physically fit to complete the rigorous training.

"Soldiers who have recently returned from a deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan train Airmen on what they went through and what could be expected," Douglass said. "Airmen learn how to actively participate in convoy operations; they are put in combat scenarios; they learn how to call for medical evacuations and perform combat lifesaving techniques."

Douglass said the training is very physically demanding because of the movements required and the weight of protective gear worn by Airmen. The extra preparation helps prevent injury and over-exhaustion in the deployed area.

For more information on JET, visit www.jetairmen.af.mil, www.facebook.com/jetairmenfanpage or www.keesler.af.mil/units/2ndairforce.asp.