|
Training for the right moment is paramount to maintaining our
position as the world’s greatest Air Force. On this day, like any
other in Okinawa, a distinct sound can be heard after walking
through the door at Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM).
“FIRE!”
Moments later, loud bangs from rifles ring out,
sending sound waves through the student’s bodies, the heart skips a
beat and the only thing one can hear is the ringing in their ears
from the pulled triggers. Welcome to combat arms qualification
training.
The schedule for students attending the course was packed and
started at 8:00 a.m. After arriving, the class meets their
instructor for the day and proceeds to the armory to acquire their
weapons. Training began with two to three hours of classroom
instruction where students learned how to clear, load, unload, use,
and clean their weapon.
Once the initial classroom portion is
completed, the students head to lunch, and return ready to start
firing qualifications.
Air Force personnel primarily qualify
on the M4 carbine and the M9 pistol. However, the range here at
Kadena can also support the M870 shotgun, M240 and M249 machine
guns, M107 sniper rifle, as well as the M203 grenade launcher.
|
December 6, 2017 - Airmen fire at targets during a combat arms
qualification course Dec. 6, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Air
Force personnel primarily qualify on the M4 carbine and the M9
pistol. However, the range here at Kadena can also support the M870
shotgun, M240 and M249 machine guns, M107 sniper rifle, as well as
the M203 grenade launcher. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Greg Erwin)
|
“The course is necessary for Airmen who are about to
change stations, forward deploy, or for duty requirements,”
said Staff Sgt. Seanice Thomas, 18th Security Forces
Squadron combat arms range safety officer.
“You have
to have a need to come through the training, it’s not open
to the public.”
Range qualification testing consists of
multiple magazines with different numbers of bullets loaded
for different scenarios and firing positions. This format
helps simulate random situations that Airmen may encounter
on the job or while deployed.
The qualification
portion takes anywhere from three to four hours. This is the
most crucial portion to determine proficiency of the Airmen.
According to, Staff Sgt. Sebastian Landivar, 18th SFS
combat arms range safety officer, the stress of making sure
your effort is good enough to qualify can weigh on the mind
of many who take the course.
“A lot of folks are kind
of scared, afraid of weapons, or don’t enjoy it,” Landivar
said. “If you come in with a positive attitude, you’re able
to make this day a lot better.”
By the end of the day
however, the students really enjoyed the experience.
“My favorite part of the training was shooting on burst
mode,” Staff Sgt. Tess Sunderlin, 353rd Special Operations
Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment said. “You have to
really focus to hit the target, and the adrenaline rush is
really cool.”
Sunderlin also had words of
encouragement for anyone who is scheduled to test.
“The line instructors are really helpful, they know what
they’re doing, and I trust them,” Sunderlin said.
For
Airmen who are still not convinced why the training is
important, or maybe aren’t taking the day as serious as
they’d like, Sunderlin also had this to say.
“Take
the training seriously, because you never know when you’re
going to have to forward deploy with somebody and use these
skills,” Sunderlin said. “Pay attention, do your best, and
don’t treat it as just a day off from work.”
The
skills taught in the class are just another way that the
18th SFS combat arms section is able to help keep Team
Kadena safe, and ultimately help the Air Force in producing
the most capable, ready, and highly skilled Airmen able to
fly, fight, and win.
By U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Greg Erwin
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2018
Comment on this article |
