Readiness training: Out with the old, in with the new

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Sept. 1, a new Air Force-wide format for readiness training replaced the old method which included a grueling three-hour of PowerPoint presentation, immediately followed by an hour of practical hands-on training.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Survival Skills training - formerly known as Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense training - is now "blended."

The first portion is conducted online.

Once all sections of the computer-based training are complete, and a "Pass" certificate has been printed out, members then take about a three-hour practical portion at Building 538.

The CBT takes an average of four hours, according to Senior Airman Neal Clark, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management Flight.

"It's definitely not easy - there's testing (after each section), and students have to pass each individual portion before going on to the next one," he said. "In a lot of CBT, you can just click the buttons and go through quickly - this definitely isn't one of those. If you don't pass, then you have to redo it."

Airmen must pass the online training no more than 60 days prior to the hands-on training.

Unit schedulers for each squadron will register their personnel for practical training at the readiness and emergency management flight, and it's up to each individual to take the computer-based training in plenty of time beforehand.

"Overall, the new course takes longer, but the end goal is that is provides better training," Airman Clark said. "In a classroom setting, you can't guarantee people are paying attention - with CBT, they have to pay attention in order to pass."

Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, with an average of 10 classes per month. After the first week of the new training format, Airman Clark said the students seemed to have done very well.

Previously, the classroom PowerPoint slide training included explosives ordnance reconnaissance. Now that's incorporated into the online training.

"It makes it much more user-friendly," said Airman 1st Class Thomas Crenshaw, 100th CES Readiness and Emergency Management Flight.

"When showing up for the practical class, it's imperative students have their pass certificate and chemical warfare gear with them," he said. "Anyone showing up without it will be turned away, and a no-show letter will be sent to their unit commander. To keep that from happening, students must have everything with them - and only certificates from the new training will be accepted."

Anyone with a certificate from training taken before Sept. 1 will have to redo the training to get the new certificate, and to ensure they have been trained on all relevant topics.
Students are required to have their Airmen's Manual, Air Force Manual 10-100 with them at the training.

"This new-style training is definitely an improvement on the old," said Airman Clark. "In the old class, there would always be someone staring blankly back at you - this is a better evaluation of each individual's knowledge. They still have to prove to us they can physically fulfill all the requirements.

"When they've completed the evaluation and are in the system, that's when they get credit for it," he said.

Editor's note: For more information, or to schedule training, contact your unit scheduler.