1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:01,560 - Hi, I'm Colonel Blackwell, 2 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:04,330 Commander of the 81st Training Wing here at Keesler. 3 00:00:04,330 --> 00:00:05,950 Today, our senior leaders announced 4 00:00:05,950 --> 00:00:08,070 that some of BMTs trainees will come here 5 00:00:08,070 --> 00:00:09,350 for their basic training, 6 00:00:09,350 --> 00:00:11,160 rather than Lackland Air Force Base. 7 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,820 I am proud to welcome Keesler's new detachment, 8 00:00:13,820 --> 00:00:16,430 detachment five of the 37th Training Wing. 9 00:00:16,430 --> 00:00:19,010 This is a significant shift in how we do business, 10 00:00:19,010 --> 00:00:20,580 but we are proud to be part of the plan 11 00:00:20,580 --> 00:00:22,670 to keep our training pipeline going forward 12 00:00:22,670 --> 00:00:24,730 during our nation's battle against COVID. 13 00:00:24,730 --> 00:00:26,980 I'm filming this in our technical training triangle 14 00:00:26,980 --> 00:00:28,730 and behind me is a building we set aside 15 00:00:28,730 --> 00:00:31,560 to house trainees that will arrive on April 7th. 16 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,510 This is a new process and one that we've not seen 17 00:00:33,510 --> 00:00:35,530 at Keesler since World War II. 18 00:00:35,530 --> 00:00:37,070 Keesler's training mission is already armed 19 00:00:37,070 --> 00:00:38,940 with many of the facilities and procedures 20 00:00:38,940 --> 00:00:41,450 required to execute the BMT mission. 21 00:00:41,450 --> 00:00:44,280 We have dorms, we have classrooms, dining facilities, 22 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,110 running tracks, and workout areas. 23 00:00:46,110 --> 00:00:48,560 But most importantly, we have a phenomenal team 24 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,909 who's excited to support this new concept. 25 00:00:50,909 --> 00:00:53,550 These challenging times mean that we need to find 26 00:00:53,550 --> 00:00:55,640 innovative and flexible solutions. 27 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:57,780 Keesler is proud to be the Air Force's solution 28 00:00:57,780 --> 00:01:00,230 to training our airmen for the Air Force we need.