Locked and loaded

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The combat arms training and maintenance course ensures Travis Airmen are skilled shooters, whether those Airmen are deploying, changing stations or need to re-qualify for their career fields.

In December 2011, the Air Force expanded the course of fire to include more shooting positions, as well as a mobile portion.

Under the new program, the course of fire is split into two days. The first day is confined to the classroom to provide Airmen a refresher course in aspects ranging from weapons disassembly and assembly, cleaning, safety, proper handling and aiming techniques, as well as many other facets of the M16A2 and M4. The intensive course ends day one with a preview of what will be required of the Airmen to qualify the next day on the range.

The second day, Airmen meet at the firing range to put their knowledge and skills to the test. For the new test, to obtain the small arms marksmanship ribbon Airmen must qualify as excellent in all six categories.

On the command of "Lock and load," Airmen lock the bolt of the M16A2 or M4 forward and load the magazine. On the command of "Fire," Airmen charge the weapon, move the setting from safety to semi, aim and squeeze the trigger.

After 220 rounds of ammunition have been expended, the firing has ceased as well as the resounding, intermittent blasts that accompany; the Airmen are able to view how well they shot the body silhouette target and the six-silhouette target.

Senior Airman Dylan Gillo, 60th Security Forces Squadron is a combat arms instructor. He is responsible for ensuring Airmen maintain their shooting skills.

"We don't want any Airmen in a combat zone who feels like they don't know how to proficiently operate their weapon," Gillo said. "We make sure that everyone is ready for deployments."

According to Gillo, he couldn't have asked for a better job in the Air Force.

"I get to see the entire base populace," he said. "I'm not confined to the same thing every day."

Every branch of the military has a CATM, Gillo said. If it didn't exist, there would be no way for service members to remain combat ready. CATM makes for a stronger military.