Defenders enhance lethality with advanced range training

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  • By Megan Prather, Staff Writer

About 20 members of the 72nd Security Forces Squadron, including active duty members and Air Force Civilian Police Officers, recently completed an advanced training course which will diversify their skill sets.

The three-day training course included one day of classroom training and two days of training on the pistol and carbine at the Tinker AFB Combat Arms Training Maintenance Range. Those who completed the training received certification from the National Rifle Association as a Range Safety Officer.

The instructor for the course, Don Robinson, says the goal of the training is to give Security Forces and Air Force Civilian Police members a new set of skills that make them proficient at being trainers within the squadron. The NCOIC of Combat Arms, Technical Sergeant Derek Dent, also sees it as an opportunity to sharpen their already existing skill sets.

“It’s good to enhance the lethality of the security forces members and sharpen their skill sets,” Dent said.

Corporal Marcus Hood has been with an Air Force Civilian Police Officer for about five years and says this type of training is vital.

“This type of training is vital to law enforcement and military in particular,” Hood said.  “One of your primary duties and responsibilities is carrying a firearm and you need to be proficient with it and you need to be lethal with it when you’re out there on the streets or deployed. Your primary focus is your firearm and you should be the best that you can, and this type of training is increasing your skill set.”

Hood also says that providing this course shows a commitment to training.

“It’s an advanced course. I was a law enforcement officer for many years and you never had this course, but if you’re going to be a range master it’s a requirement. The fact that they’re giving this training to garrison level troops and us civilian guys is a huge deal.”