Barksdale Profile: Combat Arms Instructors Have Many Duties
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Updated: August 19, 2011
Eight people, splitting 26 duties. Maintaining 7500 weapons and equipping Barksdale airmen with lifesaving measures.
"It's one of the most important trainings they go to I think before they go deploy" says Staff Sergeant Kevin Hillman, a combat arms instructor.
Master Sergeant John Franklin oversees seven combat arms instructors.
"I get great satisfaction out of being able to teach people these skills and my instructors are the same way" says MSgt. Franklin.
Each one has to go through a rigorous evaluation.
"The way I train is the way I want them to be when they go downrange to deploy to Afghanistan or Iraq they need to know how ot use the weapons system" says SSgt. Hillman.
But they do much more than just training. Airmen are always learning and using new techniques.
At Barksdale Air Force Base they developed a procedure that's now used air force wide. It called the hot brass procedure. The little piece of metal that flies out of the gun can burn your skin.
"You flip your collar up button your top button to keep it from going down your neck and then you button your sleeves."
Tips keeping airmen safe on the firing range and in the field.
"It's one of the most important trainings they go to I think before they go deploy" says Staff Sergeant Kevin Hillman, a combat arms instructor.
Master Sergeant John Franklin oversees seven combat arms instructors.
"I get great satisfaction out of being able to teach people these skills and my instructors are the same way" says MSgt. Franklin.
Each one has to go through a rigorous evaluation.
"The way I train is the way I want them to be when they go downrange to deploy to Afghanistan or Iraq they need to know how ot use the weapons system" says SSgt. Hillman.
But they do much more than just training. Airmen are always learning and using new techniques.
At Barksdale Air Force Base they developed a procedure that's now used air force wide. It called the hot brass procedure. The little piece of metal that flies out of the gun can burn your skin.
"You flip your collar up button your top button to keep it from going down your neck and then you button your sleeves."
Tips keeping airmen safe on the firing range and in the field.
