U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro Visits Basic Training

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jeeff Pixley
  • 323rd Training Squadron
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - LACKLAND, Texas --  
In his first visit to the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Congressman Joaquín Castro (D, TX) was given a close-up look at Air Force Basic Military Training.

After lunch with the 502nd Air Base Wing Commander, Brig. Gen/ Theresa Carter, Congressman Castro visited the 323rd Training Squadron in the first-of-its-kind Airmen Training Complex. The 1,250 bed, $73M dormitory and office space includes state-of-the-art closed circuit cameras, centralized security and access control, upgraded drill and physical training facilities and numerous other upgrades from the 1960's era Recruit Housing and Training Facility it replaced.

Congressman Castro, accompanied by members of his staff and Col. Mark Camerer, commander of the 37th Training Wing, was met by the commander of the 737th Training Group, Col. Deborah Liddick, and the commander of the 323rd Training Squadron, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Greenwood.

Once inside the facility, the Congressman received an introduction to Basic Military Training with a video and slide show presented by Military Training Instructor Tech. Sgt. Pedro Peña. At the conclusion of the briefing, Peña led the group on a tour of the sprawling facility.

Highlights of the tour included improved security systems, the addition of in-house chaplain support, improved shaded outdoor training areas, elevator access/ADA compliance and a tour of an active trainee dormitory.

The Congressman was shown the types of attention to detail expected of the trainees, including hospital corners on beds, evenly spaced hangars and perfectly rolled socks. Also highlighted were the ATC's improved HVAC, latrine facilities and touch less canteen filling stations; all designed to reduce trainee illness and the spread of communicable diseases.
After leaving the dormitory, the tour continued to the $23 million Dining and Classroom Facility. With its 12 college-style stadium classrooms, each with 120 computers, the new facility illustrated the continuing evolution of our classroom environment and academic training procedures.

From the second floor of the DCF, the Congressman was given a bird's eye view of the new BMT campus. With two other ATCs and another DCF under construction, the Congressman saw the future of BMT.

The tour culminated with a round-table discussion between the Congressman and ten basic trainees in their 7th week of training. Congressman Castro began by thanking the trainees for their service and then asked if basic training was what they expected. The consensus among the trainees was that BMT was not what they expected. One trainee noted that she was surprised by the amount of academics.

The congressman left with a general overview of what BMT is and promised a return visit in the future to see more of the wing's mission.