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After live-fire training at the Camp Gruber Training Center in eastern Oklahoma, 72nd Security Forces members return to Tinker and the Combat Arms facility June 10 to disassemble, clean and reassemble the M240B machine gun. Airmen 1st Class Ryan Irvin, front and Geoffrey Goodwill are one team cleaning the two-person weapon. The M240B weighs 27 pounds and can fire 650 to 950 rounds per minute against lightly-armored vehicles and personnel. (Air Force photos by Margo Wright)

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Staff Sgt. Andrea Byrd watches her firing precision by the dirt kicked up meters down range as she fires .50-caliber rounds from an M2 machine gun June 9 at the Camp Gruber Training Center in eastern Oklahoma. Airman 1st Class Justin Simmons feeds belts of ammunition to the weapon that can rip through 100 rounds in about 15 seconds. Tinker 72nd Security Forces Combat Arms instructor Staff Sgt. David Tuscany watches her aim. The annual qualifying firing was a victory for the Airman who was injured when an M2 malfunctioned during 2009 training in Iraq. (Air Force photos by Margo Wright)

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Airman 1st Class Cory Christenson loads crates with 900 empty shells from his M2 .50-caliber machine gun live-fire training June 9 at the Camp Gruber Training Center. With a firing report that is fearsome and felt and can rattle and chip teeth of the unprepared, first-time firer Airman Christenson said it was an “awesome” experience. (Air Force photos by Margo Wright)

72nd SFS Airmen prepare to deploy; participate in heavy weapons training

Published June 29, 2011
By Brandice J. O'Brien
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Eighty Airmen from the 72nd Security Forces Squadron are one step closer to being ready for a November deployment. Earlier this month, they participated in a combat-arms heavy weapons' training and earned certification for up to four weapons.

The two-part training course occurred at Tinker for classroom instruction and weapon cleaning, and at Camp Gruber Training Center, in eastern Oklahoma, for weapons' qualification.

"When they think of the Air Force, most people only think of jets and air support. They don't realize there are Airmen out there watching the perimeter, clearing buildings, and conducting walking patrols through villages to ensure our resources and personnel are safe," said Senior Airman Elijah Langhorne, member of the 72nd SFS. "Weapons' training is another facet of our day to day life; we do more than just check IDs and patrol Tinker. We train with a purpose."

Before Airmen were permitted to touch live weapons, they attended classroom instruction at the 72nd Combat Arms training facility. The class refreshed Airmen about the weapon and how to handle it, its purpose, and what to do if the weapon misfired or jammed. Most weapons required one day in the classroom, however, the M2 .50-caliber machine gun required four days.

Following classroom training, up to 15 students were driven roughly 150 miles east to the Oklahoma Army National Guard's training facility for hands-on training. For approximately four hours, Airmen practiced firing the weapon of the day. When they were finished, Airmen and weapons returned to Tinker for cleaning and reassembling.

Over the course of 10 days, Airmen fired M249 squad automatic weapons, M240B machine gun, M203 grenade launcher and/or the M2, depending the certification they needed.

"I really like the M2 for its size and power," said Airman 1st Class Nathan Carl. "I'm learning to be more confident around the weapon and I'll be prepared if something happens. Plus, the M2 is less complicated to me than the M240 and 249."

Airman 1st Class Justin Simmons agreed.

"Practicing on the M2 is good training and I like rapid fire," he said. "They say one round could take an arm off."

When they arrived and were set up at Camp Gruber's multi-purpose machine gun range, one Airman positioned himself in a dugout between two concrete walls wearing a helmet, gloves and flak vest in addition to his Airman battle uniform. With the gun positioned before him, mounted on a tripod on a grassy knoll, the shooter was not alone. A CATM instructor sat just to his right at level with the gun on a folding camp stool with a canvas seat. To the left of the weapon was an assistant shooter to help reload the weapon. Each Airman fired 900 rounds.

They fired at pop-targets 100 to 1,500 meters away.

"The range of the bullet is 5 miles," said Shawn McClelland, 72nd SFS CATM instructor.

Before they fired, they were warned not to clinch their teeth or keep their mouths closed. The power of the gun was so strong their teeth would clatter against one another and possibly chip.

Secondly, beware of the heat coming off the gun; it got so hot, it could cook bacon, Mr. McClelland said.