There’s a buzz around Tullahoma’s Arnold Air Force Base about the mission known as ‘C-BAT’ that could be headed for the base, bringing with it at least 800 jobs.

Common Battlefield Airmen Training would be a five-week combat crash-course to prepare airmen for hand to hand combat. Eventually, the Air Force expects to train 14,000 airmen each year at the chosen base.

Two other sites in the southeast are in the running. Senator Bob Corker mentioned the C-BAT mission first thing as he talked with constituents near the base (this week/last week.)

“Maybe I’m not unbiased, but I can’t imagine it going anywhere else but right here. Everything is so ready and so prepared and there’s so much support for it, but we’ve had a number of meetings with the highest of officials.”

Considering his growing political weight in Washington, most recently helping to land a new Medicaid waiver for the state, Corker’s support and enthusiasm may indicate good news to come for Tullahoma.

A final report that includes public comments gathered this summer should be released in December, with a final decision from Air Force commanders in January.