Security forces fire with precision

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  When Air Force battle requirements call for Airmen to observe, report and engage a target from close proximity, without being seen, they call for their sharpshooters. 

A sharpshooter's job is to deliver discriminatory, highly accurate rifle fire against enemy targets that otherwise could not be engaged successfully by the regular rifleman due to range, size, location, fleeting nature or visibility. Sharpshooting requires a higher degree of performance that exceeds basic infantry skills. 

"Being a sharpshooter doesn't just mean you are the best with a rifle," said Tech. Sgt. Brian Davis, 56th Security Forces Squadron patrolman. "You need to raise the bar on all your basic infantry skills such as: camouflage and evasion, orienteering and wilderness survival." 

A sharpshooter's training incorporates a wide variety of subjects designed to increase his value as a force multiplier and to ensure his survival on the battlefield. The art of sharpshooting requires Airmen to learn and practice the skills of long range rifle marksmanship and field movements to ensure maximum effective engagements with minimum risk. 

Security forces members must be good with their weapons. But to reach the level of proficiency required to be called a sharpshooter, members must attend the close precision engagement course. This 19-day course is held four times a year at Camp Robinson, Army National Guard, Ark. 

"I learned more about shooting in 19 days than I had in my whole life," said Tech. Sgt. Shadd McKee, 56th Security Forces Squadron confinement NCO in charge. 

While in school, Airmen are each issued approximately 50 pounds of equipment. This includes the single-shot M-24 rifle, a handbook for writing target information and sketching scenery and a multitude of other gear. 

One of the skills trainees are required to master during the course is target range estimation. The Airmen use a complex mathematical formula and binoculars to figure the distance to a target. Initially, students are given a 500-meter target to calibrate and test their skills. After that, they're on their own, having to range targets from 300 to 1,000 meters away. 

But the most important skill that is honed while attending the course is the shooter's memory. 

To keep their memory sharp, Airmen are subjected almost daily to "Kim's game." Instructors gather students in a circle to look at a set of objects on the ground. Hours later, they must remember all of the objects as well as other variables instructors throw their way. 

"The instructors would scatter small items over the ground and we had to memorize what they were, while we were doing pushups or running around the area," Sergeant McKee said. "It was hard but important." 

These memory tests aid Airmen when they're out in the field observing an enemy camp. They can tell what has changed since the last time they were out. 

The shooters memory isn't the only thing that needs to be honed to perfection. Their relationship with their spotter needs to perfected as well. 

"Anyone can pull a trigger," Sergeant McKee said. "It's important to have a good spotter, because he's the person that is feeding the information needed like range to target and wind corrections and so on." 

Another reason a sharpshooter needs to be in harmony with the spotter is when both Airmen have been lying in one position, motionless for up to 12 hours observing a target, they need each other to stay focused on the task, Sergeant McKee said.

The sharpshooter program is an important part of the Air Force's ability to project power forward with precision. 

"I believe it's a great program," Sergeant McKee said. It's allowing the Air Force to do what we've been counting on other services to do for us. It makes us more self-sufficient."

Side bar: 

Prerequisites for being selected for the course. 

· Airmen must be a security forces, explosive ordinance disposal or special operations member. 
· Airmen must be active duty, Reserve or National Guard have a good performance record with no history of alcohol or drug abuse, be a volunteer, and be recommended by the Airmen's commander. 
· Airmen must be in excellent physical condition. 
· Airmen must have a corrected vision of 20/20. 
· Airmen must have no record of disciplinary action. 
· Airmen must have qualified expert with the M16A2/M4 Carbine rifle within six months of course attendance. 
· Airmen must have normal color vision annotated on SF 88 and be tested within six months of course attendance. 
· Airmen must have a minimum of one year retainability. 
· Airmen must pass a psychological evaluation, conducted under the direction of a qualified psychologist.