Battlefield training program would be economic cornucopia
Recently, members of our community came together at the AEDC rifle ranges with over 30 members of the Tennessee General Assembly. This group of 14 Democrats and 17 Republicans all came together in the utmost bipartisan fashion for the purpose of assisting our area to secure an aggressive financial incentive package from the state of Tennessee for CBAT ??The United States Air Force?s Common Battlefield Airman Training program.
Our area is on the final list of three potential sites for this new program, which will boast over $80 million in new construction projects, 800 new full-time jobs, thousands of new support jobs in the community and will create an estimated $300 million in new economic activity in our region.
Through CBAT, the Air Force is seeking to enhance the survivability of its fighting men and women in asymmetric warfare situations. The unique challenges presented by the global war on terror force all of our military personnel to become front line fighters on a moment?s notice.
The current training curriculum for the average Air Force trainee does not include adequate training in land warfare. CBAT is designed to remedy this situation by providing intensive instruction in small arms training, combat first aid, land navigation, small unit tactics and quick, organized reaction to an ambush situation.
Arnold Engineering Development Center, with its vast quantity of unencumbered land, in conjunction with the Tennessee Army National Guard?s world-class firing ranges and current training center make us the logical choice. The state of Tennessee?s growing commitment to the project only serves to strengthen our position during the final selection process scheduled for this fall and winter.
The additional infrastructure CBAT will bring includes range improvements, new roads, housing, and recreational and fitness facilities that could well be made available to our National Guard troops here in Tennessee. This joint cooperation can literally provide us with twice the impact of our tax dollars invested in the project and gives Southern Middle Tennessee an opportunity of a lifetime.
We want to give a well-deserved thank you to the Arnold Community Council for spearheading these efforts and for being a sponsor of our event. Congressman Lincoln Davis, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and our entire federal delegation have openly pledged their total support for this project, as have elected representatives from many of our neighboring states.
The Warren County Rifle Club, local chambers of commerce and dozens of volunteers worked tirelessly to show the delegation unsurpassed hospitality. These kind gestures and the energies expended in educating the delegation about CBAT have literally put this project firmly at the top of the list for our state?s economic development team. The Tennessee Legislature, with members from Memphis to Bristol was here to see first hand what we are hoping to accomplish, and we are confident that we can report their undivided support for our venture.
Lastly, but definitely not least, this is the right thing to do for our state and our country. We can all be proud Tennessee is earnestly answering the call to provide the United States Air Force with the best possible option for this new mission.
Judd Matheny is a state representative serving parts of Warren and Coffee counties. He can be reached at [email protected].