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New 'shipment' of students largest in two years

  • Published
  • By Susan Griggs
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. (AETCNS) --  A caravan of buses wound its way to Keesler Oct. 31, a sure sign that the 81st Training Group is rebounding from Hurricane Katrina.

The arrival of the 314 basic training graduates for in-processing at the Levitow Training Support Facility was the largest "shipment" of students Keesler has seen in at least two years, not just since the storm, said Lt. Col. Shane Courville, 81st TRG deputy commander.

The nonprior service student load topped 1,700 as of Nov. 1, about 200 more than immediately before Katrina, along with about 150 Marine Corps and Navy students. Preparations for another 1,200 active-duty, Air National Guard and Reserve students are under way to accommodate students in temporary duty status.

Colonel Courville, who commanded the 81st Training Support Squadron before moving to the 81st TRG command section, recalled that immediately after the hurricane, officials expected Keesler's training mission to be suspended until March 2006. But by Sept. 19, 400 students were back in the base's classrooms, and the number has risen steadily ever since. He credits Keesler's long-term facility modernization program with the resurgence of technical training.

"Even though our dormitories and training facilities are on the south side of the base nearer the coastline, most of the structures are new and well-built and survived the winds and flooding quite well," Colonel Courville said.

Col. Deborah Van De Ven, who assumed command of the 81st TRG Sept. 30, said that a tiger team comprised of representatives from Air Staff, the Air Force Personnel Center, Air Education and Training Command, 2nd Air Force and all technical training bases is guiding the reconstitution of Keesler's training mission. As of Nov. 1, 27 enlisted initial skills courses prioritized by Air Staff in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath have resumed.

"Sometimes I have to slow things down a little -- the need for training is growing faster than I can ensure capabilities," Colonel Van De Ven said. "We have seven long courses that require (permanent change of station) moves, and we have some issues to work with married students who have dependents to care for, because of the critical housing shortages here since the storm."

Before Katrina, Keesler had more TDY students than nonprior service trainees. Lodging is still a limiting factor in the resumption of specialized follow-on training.

"Beds are an issue," Colonel Van De Ven said. "We need greater resolution of our requirements to work with the 81st Mission Support Group on the billeting situation. Before Katrina, many of our TDY students stayed downtown, but now the off-base situation isn't particularly good."

Nov. 1, the training group turned over one of the newer dormitories, Connor Manor, for TDY student lodging.

"It won't be an ideal situation with two to a room, but it's the best we can do under the circumstances to get the training machine back towards full production," Colonel Van De Ven said.

Repairs are already under way for three 81st TRG buildings that sustained extensive roof damage.

Colonel Van De Ven is proud of the way Keesler trainers have coped in the hurricane's aftermath.

"It's amazing the way our instructors have been able to set aside their personal losses to get the job done," she said. "It seems as if half of our people lost everything and the other half had minimal losses. There's tremendous camaraderie here -- everyone pulling together to take care of our mission as well as each other."