Combat controller path goes through Keesler Published Oct. 5, 2011 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Back in 2003, Staff Sgt. Robert Gutierrez was a student in the combat control operator course in the 334th Training Squadron. Master Sgt. Jacob Chandler, instructor supervisor for the course, provided a quick overview of the training path for combat controllers. "All combat controllers start the pipeline at the two-week combat control selection course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas," Chandler explained. "Next, in no specific order, they complete three weeks in the basic airborne parachutist training at Ft. Benning, Ga., two weeks of survival and evasion training at Fairchild AFB, Wash., and 12 weeks in our course here at Keesler. "The final stop is the 12-week combat control course at Pope AFB, N.C., where they are awarded their berets and 3-level," he said. Following the 18-month 3-level pipeline, combat controllers receive an additional 18 months of upgraded training at the Special Tactics Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. "During this period, 3-levels attend advanced infiltration school, combat diver qualification and military free fall," Chandler stated. "These newly learned skills are tied together with advanced tactics to produce a combat ready 5-level for the operational units."