Camp helps future Battlefield Airmen prepare

  • Published
  • By Bob Oldham
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Air Force recruiters are in a battle these days - a battle to find physically qualified recruits to fill the force's critical Battlefield Airmen career fields.

With an early physical fitness test washout rate hovering near 60 percent, recruiters have turned to offering educational sessions like one held here June 1-4 for nearly 50 recruits from seven states to help recruits pass the physical ability stamina test they face at basic training to determine if they're physically qualified to continue into a Battlefield Airmen career field.

Battlefield Airmen career fields are: pararescue, combat control, tactical air control party, battlefield / special operations weathermen and survival, evasion, resistance and escape. They are often deployed to hostile zones and often work with the Army or other services.

To their credit, recruiters have turned the pass/fail rate around, reporting that roughly 65-70 percent percent of accessioned recruits in these career fields now pass the PAST at BMT.

"A lot of it just comes down to educating applicants," said Capt. John Garvey, 345th Recruiting Squadron operations officer. "We've put a lot of emphasis on educating our Battlefield Airmen applicants over the past year" to get the right recruits the right training and education to set them up for success.

Recruits were exposed to numerous activities, such as swimming techniques to improve performance in the pool and weightlifting techniques to target specific muscle groups. Additionally, they also participated in Reveille and Retreat ceremonies each day.

But it was far from a basic military training environment, Lt. Col. Mike Romero, the 345th Recruiting Squadron commander, said.

"A major part of our mission right now is to find the right people to take these tough jobs," he said. "It's a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of effort to get them through this whole pipeline that could be two years from now."

He said his recruiters are continually searching to find those potential recruits who have what it takes to serve in some of the Air Force's most demanding career fields. And he knows it's not for everyone.

But at least two of the nearly 50 recruits have what it takes.

Mikah Wilkerson, from Columbia, Mo., is going to be a combat controller, heading to basic training Aug. 20. The week provided him more motivation.

"I loved it," he said about the camp. "I loved the team-building exercises."

He ran cross country, wrestled and played baseball in high school, which helped him compete for the camp's top performance award.

Warren McCrany, from Collins, Miss., will be shipping off within the month to basic training to become a SERE apprentice.

"When I learned about SERE, I really liked that," he said.

He comes from a family with a long line of service members, following in the footsteps of both his grandfathers who were drafted during World War II and a couple of uncles who served in the Air Force and one uncle who served in the Marines.

Working in construction in his home state, he said he felt he wanted more out of his life. He also wanted a reliable pay check and benefits. "I wanted to be around guys like at this camp," he said. "They're all great guys, and I wanted to serve my country."