Photo By Airman 1st Class Giselle Nicasio-Aguero | Leadership from Team McChord participate in the first shots of Staples Range at Joint...... read more read more
Team McChord’s Defenders now have a new, locally accessible range designed to strengthen weapons proficiency and prepare Airmen for the demands of modern combat.
Staples Range, the newest training capability at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, officially opened Aug. 7, 2026, with its first live-fire event. The range gives Defenders and other Airmen direct access to weapons training at multiple distances while reducing the time, personnel and resources previously required to train off base.
The range also carries a personal connection to Team McChord. It was dedicated in honor of Mr. Dennis J. Staples, a former Defender and longtime civilian employee with the 627th Air Base Group who died last year. His children, Alex and Sarah Staples, attended the first shots fired at the range.
With the new range located on the installation, Airmen can spend less time traveling and setting up and more time conducting actual weapons training. The reduced transportation time also allows training to be conducted more efficiently and creates opportunities for more frequent qualification and sustainment training.
“By coming to this range, now we’re looking at a transition time from our classroom to the range of about 15 minutes, where before it could take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour pending traffic,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Dekkinga, 627th Security Forces Squadron commander. “That definitely streamlines our ability to get folks out here to the range and execute their training in an effective manner.”
Staples Range expands training beyond a traditional 25-meter firing point. The range can support firing points from approximately 18 to 34 meters, allowing Airmen to train at different distances and account for factors such as bullet drop and environmental conditions.
The additional space also supports more realistic training. Defenders can incorporate shoot-move-communicate exercises that require Airmen to move while engaging targets. The training helps develop individual and team skills in conditions that better reflect the environments Airmen could encounter during future missions.
“We want to be able to train in how we fight,” said Dekkinga. “We need to be able to train in an environment where those targets are at different distances and different sizes, so that we can ensure that we’re training more effectively with our Airmen.”
The capability also supports the Air Force’s need to prepare Airmen for potential near-peer and global threats. Modern adversaries may require Airmen to operate and engage threats in less predictable environments, making adaptable and realistic weapons training increasingly important.
“This is going to be our go-to range for some of our smaller weapon systems like our M18s and M4s,” said Dekkinga. “These weapons are the essentials for our Airmen in their training, specifically our Defenders, so being able to come out here more frequently for sustainment fire allows them to become more lethal and ready to execute their missions.”
Staples Range is already operational, with its first live-fire qualification taking place during the range’s opening. The new capability can now be incorporated into Team McChord’s regular training cycles. While the range looks toward the future of readiness, its dedication honors a legacy rooted in Team McChord.
Staples dedicated 43 years of service to the United States Air Force and remained connected to Team McChord through both his military and civilian careers. His family said his work was defined by a willingness to help others, care for people and continually take on new challenges.
“Having Range 3 dedicated to my dad means that the work he did was recognized, it means a lot to me,” said Alex. “I know my dad was always the type to do a lot and probably too much in some situations but knowing that people acknowledged it and appreciated it and not only that, but also was loved and cared for, I really do appreciate that portion the most.”
His daughter, Sarah, recalled the number of people who attended her father’s funeral, a reflection of the many people he touched during his years of service. Seeing the first shots fired at Staples Range provided another meaningful moment for the family. The dedication gives Staples’ name a lasting place at the installation while connecting his legacy of service to the mission of preparing today’s Airmen.
Staples Range ultimately represents more than a new place to train. It provides Team McChord with a permanent, accessible and more realistic weapons-training capability while reducing the time and resources needed to maintain proficiency. By giving Airmen more opportunities to train and incorporate dynamic skills, the range strengthens combat readiness and helps prepare Airmen for future missions, all while honoring a former Defender whose service helped shape the Team McChord community.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2026 18:42 |
| Story ID: | 572703 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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