18th SFS members undergo OC spray training

Photo By Senior Airman Corey Pettis | U.S. Air Force Airman Joshua Lenaire, 18th Security Forces Squadron response force member, subdues an attacker in a red-man suit after being sprayed with OC spray during training July 13, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Security forces members must be able to perform their mission, even if they are under extreme pain and impaired vision. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Corey M. Pettis)  

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.14.2016

Story by Airman 1st Class Corey Pettis 

18th Wing

OC spray is a non-lethal weapon used by security forces to temporarily incapacitate an adversary in order to get them to comply. Landing somewhere in between fists and lethal weapons, OC spray stings the eyes and disorients the person sprayed. As it is very painful, defenders need to know what it feels like to be sprayed.

“Before they use OC spray, they need to endure it,” said Staff Sgt. Ian Watson, 18th Security Forces Squadron training instructor. “They need to endure the pain of what it causes, so we put them in a scenario of having to use or get sprayed by OC and see how they would react.”

During the training, the participants get sprayed in the eyes and have to allow it to soak in. After yelling the Airman’s creed, they take off toward their first obstacle.

“We like to make sure they don’t just stand around when they get sprayed,” said Watson. “We want to keep them active and let them see exactly how the body should be moving and how they can be put in certain scenarios if they happen to get sprayed.”

It’s a grueling experience for each participant.

With their eyes burning, they must rapidly reload an M9 pistol and fire three times. There are no bullets, though; it’s just for training.

Next they pick up a practice baton and use it to beat back an attacker. Still suffering from the spray, they’re confronted by a fellow security forces member in a red-man suit – a full-body protective suit that allows for simulated hand-to-hand combat.

After subduing the would-be assailant, they must run to a simulated rifle and low-crawl to the next obstacle.

They carry a person on their backs over to the final obstacle, where they must serpentine around cones while carrying two water jugs.

It’s finally a mad dash to the finish line where soap and buckets of water are waiting to rinse the OC spray out of their eyes. Participants are then monitored for an hour before being able to leave.

“It’s a great way to let them experience what they could be fighting against and let them experience what they’ll be using on other people,” said Watson.

Not only must these defenders be able to defend themselves, they also have to be able to defend the base as well. This training helps them become even more prepared to perform their duties.

“They put their lives on the line defending this base every single day,” said Senior Airman Calvin Gilmore, 18th Security Forces Squadron training instructor. “We are the first line of defense that this base has so we need to know our moves and our training, and we need to be ready at all times because when something happens, who do you think they call first?”

• Date Taken: 07.14.2016
• Date Posted: 07.14.2016 21:32
• Story ID: 204017
• Location: KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP