School of Aerospace Medicine’s massive move begins with classes at temporary location

  • Published
  • By Elizabeth Long
  • 711th Human Performance Wing
KETTERING, Ohio --  That's one two-week class for the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, one giant leap in executing the Base Realignment and Closure.

The School of Aerospace Medicine, part of the 711th Human Performance Wing, is relocating to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio from Brooks-City Base in Texas. Until the new buildings are completed at the 711th Human Performance Wing complex at Wright-Patterson, classes are being held at a temporary location at the Kettering Business Park in Kettering, Ohio.

The first class at the temporary location began on December 6. Twenty-eight students are taking Bioenvironmental Site Assessment II, a two-week course that includes risk assessment and communication, casualty prevention and protection of Air Force personnel in chemical, radiological and physical hazard environments.

Major Robert Eninger, chief, Force Development Division, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health for the School of Aerospace Medicine, noted that the move was a massive juggling act that had been in the works for five years. "We had to train new curriculum developers and new faculty for the Kettering location," he said. "So a lot of time and effort went into this first day with this first course."

Staff Sergeant Rebecca Carey, course director, said staff had to figure out a lot of logistics for the course. "Everything from transportation to food to locations for field trips and scenarios," she explained. "We had to make sure the students had everything they needed for the course."

Staff Sergeant Carey said collaboration was essential in securing locations for scenarios. "We received a lot of support from the Springfield Air National Guard, as well as Air Force Radioactive Recycling and Disposal at Wright-Patterson and the Warfighters Training Center, also at Wright-Patterson," she said.

Colonel Donald Noah, deputy commander of the School of Aerospace Medicine, observed that the transition from Brooks-City Base to the temporary facility in Kettering has been smooth. "It has taken a lot of work to get to the first day of class in Kettering," he said. "You take a deep breath and you keep moving since we are preparing for more students to come here for classes."

Colonel Noah said that the local community, including the City of Kettering, the Dayton Development Coalition and the Fairborn Chamber of Commerce, has been very welcoming to the School of Aerospace Medicine.