Barksdale Profile: Weapons Qualification, Out on the Firing Range
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Updated: August 12, 2011
"If you don't know how to utilize your weapon, you may not come home" says Sergeant Kevin Hillman. The combat arms instructor teaches seven weapons systems on Barksdale Airforce Base including small, personal pistols like the M9 and machine guns.
"All base personnel come through our class."
4,000 to 5,000 people a year go through the courses.
"It's to protect themselves and others while they're over there and air force property" says Master Sergeant John Franklin, the non-commissioned officer in charge.
Combat arms instructors drill the basics: how to clean and maintain weapons, shooting fundamentals and safety.
"It's one of the most important trainings they go to, I think, before they go deploy" says Sgt. Hillman.
Some people have not fired a weapon in years because their job does not require it, so they have to come to the firing range to get qualified before deployment.
"It's a whole new learning process for them. It would be nice if everyone could fire every year but money restraints, and ammo, we just don't have the resources" says MSgt. Franklin.
But for the airmen who do qualify it could be the difference between life or death.
Airmen have to travel to Fort Polk to train on heavy weapons, like big machine guns.
"All base personnel come through our class."
4,000 to 5,000 people a year go through the courses.
"It's to protect themselves and others while they're over there and air force property" says Master Sergeant John Franklin, the non-commissioned officer in charge.
Combat arms instructors drill the basics: how to clean and maintain weapons, shooting fundamentals and safety.
"It's one of the most important trainings they go to, I think, before they go deploy" says Sgt. Hillman.
Some people have not fired a weapon in years because their job does not require it, so they have to come to the firing range to get qualified before deployment.
"It's a whole new learning process for them. It would be nice if everyone could fire every year but money restraints, and ammo, we just don't have the resources" says MSgt. Franklin.
But for the airmen who do qualify it could be the difference between life or death.
Airmen have to travel to Fort Polk to train on heavy weapons, like big machine guns.
