CST Update

Colleges and Universities A-Z Air Force Academy - Colorado Springs
1

<p>This past May, Lt. Gen. Regni announced that CST, or Combat Survival Training, would be returning to the Academy starting with the Class of 2011. We had a nice little [url=&lt;a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/air-force-academy-colorado-springs/347914-cst-revival-confirmed.html?]thread[/url”&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/air-force-academy-colorado-springs/347914-cst-revival-confirmed.html?]thread[/url</a>] about it on these boards.</p>

<p>Anyway, we (2011) had a “Summer Scheduling” briefing tonight, and I thought you all might be interested in hearing what was said regarding CST and the other summer programs. First of all, due to a lack of manpower, only 440 cadets in our class will be participating in CST. 2012, your entire class will go through it during the summer before your three degree year.</p>

<p>Now, the summer here is divided into three periods, each about three weeks long. For 2011, the breakdown will be as follows: everyone gets one period of leave, one period of either CST or Ops, and one period of GE and jump/soar/space/support, each of which are only about 10 days long.</p>

<p>As I mentioned, there are 440 CST slots this year, which they’re hoping to fill up with volunteers. We were also told that there are 428 slots for jump, a little over 300 for soaring, 220 for the space program, and the rest get stuck with “Wing Summer Support.” I honestly don’t even know what that is (probably just paperwork and CQ duty, fun).</p>

<p>We have to put in our preferences for the summer by 6 Dec. Preliminary schedules will be out in mid-February, and the finalized versions will be ready before Spring Break (NLT 13 March).</p>

<p>Below I’ve posted a few links to some pertinent information, in case you’re not completely up to speed on some of these topics.</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Combat_Survival_Training]CST[/url”&gt;http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Combat_Survival_Training]CST[/url</a>] / [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/SERE]SERE[/url”&gt;http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/SERE]SERE[/url</a>], [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Freefall_Parachute_Training]Jump[/url”&gt;http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Freefall_Parachute_Training]Jump[/url</a>], [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Soaring]Soar[/url”&gt;http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Soaring]Soar[/url</a>], [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Operation_Air_Force]Ops[/url”&gt;http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Operation_Air_Force]Ops[/url</a>], [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Global_Engagement]GE[/url”&gt;http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Global_Engagement]GE[/url</a>], [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Cadet_in_Charge_of_Quarters]CQ[/url”&gt;http://www.cadetx.com/wiki/index.php/Cadet_in_Charge_of_Quarters]CQ[/url</a>]</p>

<p>Summer’s gonna be awesome. ;)</p>

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<p>Wing summer support or "BCT PREP" is a BAD one to get. You are the mule work of the wing. They make you fill sandbags, empty warehouses. Basically you are the manual labor for summer. Even Space is a better choice!</p>

<p>Thanks for the info! So they're doing CST and not SERE?</p>

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<p>Apparently so. I guess there have been "issues" with the Resistance portion of SERE in the past, which is why it disappeared in '95.</p>

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<p>JUMP!!!!!!!</p>

<p>OPS!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>(keeping my fingers crossed)</p>

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<p>If you get those (as I'm sure you will), life will be grand, guaranteed. :)</p>

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<p>there will not be resistance or escape b/c of logisitcal issues, lack of training, and a few other issues.</p>

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<p>What is the space program?</p>

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<p>Space is a 10 day course designed to give you a better idea of what we do in space and how the AF conducts space ops. There are a lot of briefings, an introduction to ground station proceedures, and usually a trip. Last year we had a lot of free time. We did several briefings (only one of which was really bad), worked a simulated pass at the ground station, did a real pass on a satellite from Stanford, went to the Atlas rocket plant in Denver, and went to F.E. Warren AFB to see the ICBM facilities.</p>

<p>Last year, I had soaring (my 1st choice), but was given BCT prep when they redid our summer schedules. My squad had gotten a bad deal (25 out of 30 had their last choice) until our AMTs were able to have the schedules redone. Fortunately, I was able to switch to Space (I really didn't want to sit CQ or fill sandbags at Jack's).</p>

<p>Soaring and Jump are the best programs, IMO, with Space and support/BCT prep falling behind.</p>

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<p>i'm going for jump and cst.</p>

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<p>I'm going for jump and cst too. I really hope I get cst, and I assume I will.</p>

11

<p>During the briefing, we were also told that those of 2011 who do CST next summer MUST be CST cadre the following year, and then many will do it the the summer after that, too. Since I want to work Beast my jumior or senior year, I think I'll go for Ops Air Force instead, but we'll see. I'm also hoping to get SOARing next summer, so that I can be a SOARing IP later. I might try to do jump my senior year. Anyone else thinking the same thing?</p>

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<p>So will it be the same for 2013 as you said for 2012?</p>

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<p>I would imagine so. Also, the one thing I forgot to mention is that for summer programs, cadets' military performance gets a little more weight than usual. It'll be 40% GPA, 40% MPA, and 20% PEA.</p>