Show-Me State Times

Airmen with the Missouri Air National Guard's 239th Combat Communications Squadron are enhancing their combat skills through a new training course designed to ensure readiness against any adversary.

After completing a rigorous one-week program comprising over 40 hours of training, which included mastering 167 core tasks and teaching 769 line-items related to those tasks, several Airmen from the 239th CBCS have earned the title of basic combatives instructors.

With support from their commander, the goal is to establish Jefferson Barracks as a combatives training hub in the Midwest.

“Any unit that fights together, unites together,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Stacey Roestel, 239th CBCS commander. “Combatives discipline begets discipline, and our Airmen crave camaraderie and the skills to build confidence. That extends beyond our flagship unit. The whole of Jefferson Barracks, Air and Army, sorely needs this cohesion to be embedded in Total Force Integration and joint endeavors.”

The instructors aim to further coach their wingmen in the 239th CBCS, with plans for select instructors to advance to senior and master levels, enabling them to train future basic instructors.

“The first goal is to build the instructor bench; the more the merrier,” said Roestel. “Few institutions decline due to their overabundance of experts. Secondly, my goal is to allow our Airmen full access to unlock and recognize their rugged warrior qualities potential here on the training field before they encounter it in battle.”

Instructors plan a gradual approach starting with small groups focusing on fundamental principles.

“This allows us to grasp the material thoroughly and understand each other's teaching methods,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Heisner, a basic combatives instructor assigned to the 239th CBCS. “Over time, as we refine our unique teaching approaches and acquire necessary equipment requested for enhanced training sessions, we'll progress to offering advanced training across three modules: self-protection, basic standing techniques, and basic ground techniques.”

To expand the program further, combative training will be available beyond members of the 239th CBCS.

“We hope to develop this training into a course that we can offer other units at Jefferson Barracks as well as other components and sister services,” said Heisner. “We welcome any opportunities throughout the state including joint and total force courses.”

Heisner emphasized that mastering combative skills requires practice and dedication.

“It takes practice and dedication to become proficient,” he said. “With that being said, I witnessed firsthand the confidence built in just one self-protection and basic standing training session.”

In combat communications community settings, commanders require Airmen to train beyond Readiness Airmen Training standards; combatives courses serve as means for building upon an Airman’s rugged warrior qualities.

“The takeaway is that these Airmen walk away with mental toughness demanded by warfighters while strengthening their resolve,” Roestel stated. “We need warriors our Airman’s Creed says we are.”