Citizens voice opinions about possibility of CBAT at Arnold

  • Published
  • By Janae Daniels
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  A public hearing was held Tuesday night for the possible location of the Common Battlefield Airmen Training (CBAT) program at Arnold Air Force Base. 

During the hearing, the findings of the federally mandated environmental impact study from the three Air Force bases under consideration for CBAT were presented and citizens were given the opportunity to comment. 

Nearly 300 state legislators, Arnold Community Council members, local and surrounding community leaders and citizens voiced their opinions on making Arnold the location for the training site. Two other locations are being considered for CBAT: Moody AFB, Ga., and Barksdale AFB, La. A no action alternative is also a possibility. 

CBAT could ultimately train up to 14,000 Airmen annually on basic combat skills to operate on a battlefield. This training ranges from small weapons like the M-4 rifle and M-9 pistol to land and night navigation, buddy medical care, water survival and daily physical training regimens. 

If located at Arnold, CBAT could be a tenant organization with its own cantonment (campus) area near the base rifle ranges. 

"CBAT is the new initiative that reflects some changes in the Air Force mission," Col. Scott Bethel, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) deputy director of Air Space and Information Operations Technology and Training said. "Airmen are now asked to perform what are now considered traditional combat skills. It was determined that what the Air Force needed was a baseline set of training that would put in the hands of each Airmen the ability to effectively operate on the battlefield." 

Coffee County Mayor David Pennington thinks Arnold is the ideal location for CBAT. 

"Our community is proud to support the American military," Mr. Pennington said. 

Tullahoma Mayor Troy Bisby echoed that sentiment.

"We have a long history of military support," Mr. Bisby said. "Tullahoma is filled with active and retired military that would welcome CBAT members with open arms."
 
State Representative Judd Matheny also agreed with the mayors' comments.

"I can say with authority from experience and with the office I hold, that the surrounding communities and the state of Tennessee will facilitate with the Air Force that Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) is the place for CBAT." 

Local citizens shared their thoughts on how CBAT would impact not only the surrounding communities, but the nation's military as well. 

Jimmy Taylor, an Army veteran, feels the southeastern portion of middle Tennessee is a good place to raise a family and has a community that can appreciate the military. 

Charles Blevins, former AEDC employee and whose son works here and serves in the Air National Guard, feels having CBAT at Arnold can only help the Air Force. 

"We have a lot to offer in this area," he said. "In today's combat, it's not only technology, but hand to hand." 

AEDC Commander Col. Art Huber reiterated the importance of CBAT to the Air Force mission regardless of location. 

"CBAT is an important mission no matter where it goes. We all support it because it's critical to ensuring our Airmen are trained as they go about serving our country and serving the needs for the Global War on Terrorism."