Kirtland Inaugurates Combat Rescue Training Facility

Pararescuemen and combat rescue officers completing training at Kirtland AFB, N.M., will, for the first time, enjoy a dedicated facility of their own. The 342nd Training Squadron, Det. 1, has inaugurated the new Rescue/Recovery Training Center there for instruction in areas like field medicine and combat-trauma. Trainees in the final rotation previously utilized a World War II-era facility that artificially restricted class sizes to 100 students per rotation due to space constraints. The new facility eliminates that bottleneck to the training pipeline since it can accommodate up to 165 students per rotation, a Kirtland spokesman told the Daily Report Wednesday. Kirtland officials held the ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. (Includes Kirtland release)