CORBT summit provides joint services insights on recruit basic training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon Parker
  • 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  

Representatives from all five branches of the U. S. armed forces, members from British Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force, held a Council on Recruit Basic Training summit Nov. 8-10 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

 

CORBT was formed to address common issues across the joint services in recruit basic military training and technical training with the goal of sharing ideas, lessons learned and procedures to improve entry-level service enlisted training programs.

 

“We want to look at how we’re doing training across all services,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Leahy, Second Air Force commander. “We want to see what kind of lessons learned we can share with each other to make us all better, or determine that we’re all seeing a similar problem or concern and come up with a solution.”

 

Some of the major topics discussed were baselining combat readiness tests, physical fitness, attrition rates and sexual assault prevention and response.

 

Along with collaborating ideas for general improvement, another important aspect of having all the services together is figuring out how to prepare all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen to cooperate on worldwide operations said Leahy.

 

“The U.S. Air Force doesn’t go to war alone,” said Leahy. “We fight as a joint force across the globe, so the ability to interoperate and mesh as we engage in combat operations, humanitarian support operations or any other operations our nation asks us to do, is invaluable.”  

 

As a part of improving recruit basic military training, improving the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Centers’ processes was also discussed.

 

“It really helped us to have a touch point with our customer base in the joint services,” said U.S. Army Col. Chris Beveridge, commander of the Eastern Sector of United States Military Entrance Processing Command. “It’s important that we know what kind of improvements need to be made to the entrance processing so training can start earlier and we know what kind of tests the services need us to run.”

 

Leahy echoed Beveridge’s sentiment, “One of the big things we’re seeing is some commonalities on tests we want MEPs to run,” said Leahy. “We need to be aware of some issues and concerns as recruits are stepping off the bus that will allow us to take proper precautions to ensure we’re training people effectively and not putting anyone at risk.”

 

During his closing remarks, Leahy emphasized how crucial it is to have the joint perspective.

 

“Anytime you get a chance to sit down with leaders from across the sister services and partner nations you walk away better,” said Leahy. “More often then not we’re all looking at the same problem set through slightly different cultures. That allows us all to see a problem from a different perspective. Sharing that is invaluable.”