Air Force debuts new BEAST site Published Dec. 17, 2008 By Mike Joseph 37th Training Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Training and practice are complete. Commander and instructors stand at the ready. The red-ribbon site ceremonies are now a thing of the past. Simply put: It's time for the Air Force's focal point in "8.5 expansion" to be tested by the basic military trainees. The first group of trainees to use the $28 million Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training course at the Lackland Training Annex entered the site Dec. 15. These trainees are not only the initial ones to use the BEAST course, they also hold the distinction of being the first to experience the Air Force's new eight and one-half week basic training program. "I call this the centerpiece of 8.5 expansion," said Col. Edward Westermann, 737th Training Group commander. Training provides an opportunity for trainees to apply the skills they've learned here, he said. "It's going to be their operational readiness inspection to demonstrate that they can go to a forward deployed location and be able to execute the mission." Sights, sounds and emotions in a deployed situation are replicated for the trainees in the BEAST exercise. This field environment gives the Air Force an opportunity for more realistic training in the areas of basic self-defense, integrated base defense, self aid and buddy care and improvised explosive device recognition and response. The cadre of instructors who have experienced deployment first hand are enthusiastic about the new course, Colonel Westermann said. "I've talked to a number of our instructors who are equally excited because we have a cadre of instructors who have deployment experience themselves," he said. "They see this program is going to do exactly what they're talking about: Better prepare young men and women for those challenges they will face downrange. "The BMTs are excited because many of them say this is exactly why they wanted to be in the military," Colonel Westermann said. "They recognize that they will be deployed in their career, and the expectations and challenges they'll face in their career are part of that deployed experience." However, the final grade will be later down the line when trainees who have been through the course become Airmen and are deployed overseas. "Ultimately, the bottom line will be when the combat commanders come back and tell us how successful we are in achieving a better prepared young man and young woman who now goes downrange to do the mission," Colonel Westermann said.