11th Security Forces Squadron, top-notch training

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Paris Capers | Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Wilson, A security forces airman with 11th Security Forces Squadron, engages distant targets with an M240B medium machine gun during predeployment qualification exercise at Range 5 on March 4. The M240B provides superior firepower to units across the U.S. armed forces.(Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Paris Capers / RELEASED)  

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

03.04.2013

Story by Cpl. Paris Capers 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – When rounds are flying down range, one doesn’t always have the luxury of a Marine firing to the left or right. Sometimes, a soldier, sailor or airman may be manning the gun, protecting the flanks and marking the targets.

Security forces airmen from 11th Security Forces Squadron based out of Joint Base Andrews fired heavy weapons such as M249 squad automatic weapons, M203 40mm grenade launchers and M240B medium machine guns on Range 5 as part of their pre-deployment qualifications. Many of the airmen present had not fired these systems since their time in technical school, and this was a much-needed refresher.

“Everyone out here today will be deploying,” said Staff Sgt. Luis Morales, a combat arms instructor serving in security forces. Morales and more than 10 instructors served as line instructors to prepare 11th SFS for the upcoming deployment. “We had a couple of days where there was classroom instruction, and now we’re out here doing the courses of fire with the M249, M203 and M240B.”

According to Morales, the airmen on the firing lines were evaluated based on their knowledge of each weapon’s mechanics.

Some airmen are slated to deploy to Bagam Air Force Base, Afghanistan, as M203 gunners, airmen such as Senior Airman Micheal Eskew.

“At technical training school, where we learned to be security forces members, we fired all three of these systems,” said Eskew. “Today, depending on where each person is going and what they’re going to be doing, we’re firing these different systems once more.”

Regardless of which systems are to be fired, the men and women of 11th SFS are taught the ins- and-outs.

“They have to know how to operate these systems all starting with loading, clearing them out, and clearing stoppages,” said Morales. “We also make sure they know how to assemble, disassemble and maintain these weapons. All of the parts and major groups are important for the students to know - especially if that gun goes down – so they know where the problems can happen.”

For the men and women who haven’t touched these systems in years, a powerful refresher is paramount to success.

“The instructors do a top-notch job of restoring the skills that may have been lost,” said Eskew. “We start with the concepts then actually get to perform. When you can see it all come together, it’s amazing.”

The firing time on the range is the final test for 11th SFS, according to Morales, who challenged his students to engage multiple targets at different distances and offsets.

“Shooting at different targets makes these guys think: ‘What do I have to do to adjust my fire on the fly? Can I reset my aim?’ That critical understanding is what I look for.”

While directing the fire of the troops, Morales used terms from the classroom; such as searching and traversing, which instructs them to check for targets to the left and right of a target.

“We explained to the students that their commanders will understand the capabilities of these systems,” Morales said. “It is the shooter’s job to be able to live up to that expectation and utilize the weapons accordingly. We are challenging them to grasp the concepts.”

• Date Taken: 03.04.2013
• Date Posted: 03.12.2013 10:59
• Story ID: 103336
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US
• Hometown: VERO BEACH, FL, US