VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Changes are brewing at the Combat Arms Training Complex (Building 21308) here.
Seven 30th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructors are currently being trained to administer a new Rifle Carbine Air Force Qualification Course to all Airmen who are slated for deployment or permanent change of station assignments.
The new course, which is scheduled to be implemented Air Force-wide Dec. 1, will contain both basic firing positions (prone, sitting, kneeling, standing) and advanced tactical movements.
"Personally, I like the change," said Staff Sgt. David Rendon, a 30th SFS CATM instructor. "We are putting our Airmen through similar situations and scenarios that they might encounter when they deploy overseas."
The new course's curriculum is the product of more than three years of extensive research, testing and feedback by Air Force CATM instructors and security forces personnel. The ammunition rounds fired under the new curriculum will nearly double from the previous course. Airmen, who once fired 100 rounds at Vandenberg's Combat Arms Training Complex, will soon be firing 196 rounds.
Although Airmen will be receiving more in-depth firearm training, the additions made to the training course have posed an unforeseen challenge for Vandenberg's CATM instructors.
"The biggest obstacle we face is time constraints," Rendon said. "Our challenge will be to fit the additional training into the time we are allotted for each deploying Airman. Our goal is for this to remain a one-day course."
Regardless of time constraints and a work tempo of processing nearly 60 Airmen per week, Vandenberg's CATM instructors will ensure the competency of each Airman prior to release from the training course.
"We do not let anyone leave the firing range or continue firing here without knowing that they feel completely comfortable using their firearms," said Rendon.
For more information on the new curriculum,
click here.