Taking their shot Combat arms training keeps Airmen in its sights

  • Published
  • By Asante Garrott
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Travis Air Force Base Combat Arms Training and Maintenance is one place almost every individual who serves on Travis can expect to visit eventually, whether it's to take a refresher course on rifles or go on an emergency deployment requiring specific training.

Averaging out to more than 75,000 people each year, Travis' CATM is the one-stop weapons shop on Travis. The CATM is in charge of training three wings and maintaining every unit's weapons.

"Anytime there's training needed, we are there to train them, every day of the week" said Senior Airman William Taylor, 60th Security Forces combat arms trainer.

In order to provide the best training to all individuals who rely on them, the CATM instructors are trained extensively in a standard 10-week course on pistols and rifles. This training must be updated annually. Instructors are required to meet standards of being an airman first class with a 5 level which is a rank obtained by the degree of knowledge and experience on one's job.

With their focus on training the Air Force, most of the training they provide takes one day with the times varying depending on which training it is.

Individuals take classes to be trained in weapons like 9mm pistols and M-16A2 rifles as well as M11 and Sig Sauer pistols, with the most training they conduct being in M-16s, M-9s and M-4s.

In addition to the continuous flow of trainees the instructors at the CATM see, they also do their duty abroad and deploy about every 18 months for about six to seven months, serving as not only trained combat arms and maintenance but also acting as security forces.

With most of their time spent training other individuals to utilize different weapons, most of the instructors don't ever take advantage of leisurely taking some shots at the range, which for some is a hobby.

"It's something we take for granted," said Staff Sgt. Mathew Walsh, 60th SFS combat arms trainer.

With all the training and shots fired at the CATM, the issue of the safety arises. When asked about the safety precautions he takes, Sergeant Walsh simply stated, "We take every possible precaution to ensure safety."

Working and on call 24/7, the individuals working at CATM are there to assist anyone in need of their services, whether its refresher training on your everyday gun or a grenade launcher, they are who you want to see.
For more information call 707-424-3293.