Combat Arms provides detailed instruction on weapons use, maintenance

According to the U.S. Air Force Police Alumni Association, the history behind the Air Force Combat Arms Training program evolved from an incident that happened during the Korean War when Kimpo Air Base personnel were attacked and killed by Chinese communist forces.

In 1958, that tragedy prompted Gen. Curtis LeMay, Strategic Air Command commander, to change the way the Air Force provided weapons training.

It was determined that most of the personnel who died that day were not trained on the use of weapons or how to keep the weapons serviceable. As a result of the massacre at Kimpo, the Air Force selected 25 experienced [and] competitive shooters to become the initial instructor cadre of the USAF Marksmanship Center located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where it remains active today. In 1982, the USAF Combat Arms Training was placed under the operational control of Security Forces units.

“Combat Arms provides instruction for [the use of] weapons, inspections and [maintenance] of every small arm and light weapon system, in the United States Air Force inventory,” said Staff Sgt. Brent Hoffhines, Combat Arms instructor. “The weapon systems vary from base to base due to mission requirements, but the most common weapons are the M4 carbine, M16A2 rifle, M9 Pistol, M249 automatic rifle, and the M240B machine gun.”

Hoffhines explained that Combat Arms training involves instruction on weapon safety, disassembly, assembly, inspection, cleaning, loading and unloading, immediate remedial actions and marksmanship fundamentals.

“After classroom instruction, students are taken to the shooting range where they apply what they learned, using live ammunition with the guidance of the Combat Arms instructors,” said Hoffhines. “Students must obtain a minimum score of 35 out of 45 on their M9 pistol, and a 17 out of 24 on their M4 carbine in order to be qualified to arm with the weapon they are instructed to use, and that qualification expires after a year, unless maintained.

“There is no rank requirement to attend Combat Arms training, and heavy weapons training is conducted on an as-needed basis for individuals who must qualify for Air Base defense or contingency operations and to maintain instructor proficiency,” said Hoffines.

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