10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) recently shared these photos.
Adaptation and the ability to thrive in ambiguity are hallmarks of the Green Beret mindset. Training cannot and will not stop. With logical precautions, social firebreaks between teams and any outsiders allows ODAs to continue training uninterrupted.
The US Air Force has extended Basic Military Training at a secondary location until the end of COVID-19 surge operations after a successful proof-of-concept trial run at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, which began April 7.
Beginning June 2, the next Keesler BMT class will be held there under Detachment 5 of the 37th Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
USAF BMT also supports the US Space Force with basic training for its new enlisted recruits in addition to those from the active USAF, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.
Until the end of the surge, 60 new recruits from across the total force will undertake six weeks of BMT. The shortened requirement, down from 8 1/2 weeks, is due to the physical layout of the BMT area, the small number of recruits and a surge schedule, which trains Airmen 10 hours per day, six days a week, versus the notmal eight hours per day.
“This capability was a deliberately-developed option to disperse the delivery of BMT during contingencies to provide surge capacity and introduce agility in the training pipeline construct,” said Maj Gen Andrea Tullos, 2nd Air Force commander. “This move also helps ensure the health and safety of our trainees and instructors by allowing proper safety controls, like physical distancing and deep cleaning.”
The location was chosen because Keesler AFB is home to the 81st Training Wing where so many technical training schools exist. Newly accessed AF trainees won’t be exposed to potential infection during travel from BMT to tech school. Consequently, most of those attending BMT at Keesler will be those who will remain at the base for further training.
Although Keesler AFB BMT is a contingency option and is not designed to be implemented longer than 180 days, it may be kept in place for longer periods, if required.
SureFire Field Notes is a multi-segment informational video series with tips and techniques from subject matter experts of all backgrounds. In this episode, Bill Blowers of Tap-Rack Tactical discusses how he measures performance in order to track progress and improve.
Bill was a police officer in Washington State for over 25 years, retiring in February 2018 as a Sergeant. He also served in the United States Army from 1986 to 1992. He was assigned to SWAT in 1995 and absent a single year, stayed on SWAT for the remainder of his career. He served as a ballistic shield carrier, breacher, entry team member, team training coordinator and ended as a team leader. As a team leader, Bill has successfully planned or participated in over 1500 pre-planned and in progress SWAT callouts. He has over 5000 training hours and has personally trained SWAT officers in different locations around the USA.
NEWINGTON, N.H., (May 20, 2020) – SIG SAUER Academy, the leading provider of the highest quality firearms instruction and tactical training in the world, is pleased to announce the addition of Task Force SIG, a unique team-building course, to the 2020 course schedule. This one-day intensive course is taught by current and former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets with decades of experience in high threat environments and who understand the complexities of working as a team.
The exciting Task Force SIG curriculum was developed using the same principles taught in the Green Beret Special Forces Assessment and Selection and Qualification courses. The course will place students into teams to test their ability to perform in a high stress environment, while providing them with the tools, and problem-solving skills, to succeed in any situation. In conjunction with learning advanced problem-solving skills, students enrolled in Task Force SIG will learn how to safely operate a modern sporting rifle and will be challenged to complete physical obstacles on the grounds of the SIG SAUER Academy.
The first offering of Task Force SIG at the SIG SAUER Academy in Epping, New Hampshire is June 26, 2020. To register and review the course outline for Task Force SIG, find additional upcoming course dates, or review the comprehensive course offering for SIG SAUER Academy visit sigsaueracademy.com.
Students enrolled in this course should be prepared for physically demanding challenges and have the ability to carry up to 45 lbs. This class is also available as a private event. For additional information please contact the SIG SAUER Academy at 603-610-3400.
Ivan at Kit Badger spent some time with Bill Rapier, of AMTAC Shooting. Bill goes over some of the important parts of Compact Carbine Deployment from a vehicle.
FORT PICKETT, Va. – The sky above this installation was once again filled with paratroopers dropping from aircraft as the Quartermaster School resumed airborne operations April 22.
The Virginia National Guard base – a 45-minute drive west of Fort Lee – is where the QMS Aerial Delivery and Field Services Department conducts airborne operations for parachute riggers.
Staff Sgt. Raymond Debusshere, an instructor, said his department last conducted jump training March 12. It has since undergone a thorough review and reassessment to determine how to best conduct such operations without putting paratroopers at risk for contracting COVID-19.
“We’ve added various safety precautions,” said the jumpmaster from a hangar skirting Pickett’s massive airfield. “We are practicing spacing, and every jumper out here has a face mask. In addition, we’re using hand sanitizer before and after every JMPI. We also added lifts (flights) to maintain spacing on the aircraft.”
JMPI, or Jumpmaster Personnel Inspections, is a safety process ensuring every paratrooper is prepared for the operation prior to boarding the aircraft. Jumpmasters meticulously check straps and equipment placement to ensure they’re secure and not likely to cause injury. With all the precautions taken, the operation took longer than usual, Debusshere admitted. “(It) added a lot to the process, but it was crucial and it worked out well.”
The QM School is one of the few Army entities outside of operational units that has resumed airborne operations. Not surprisingly, the task of securing aircraft through normal channels for the mission proved to be a challenge because the coronavirus pandemic has shifted air support functions across the Department of Defense.
“It was an undertaking calling different units and trying to get them to come in,” said ADFSD’s Kenneth Pygatt, airborne operations coordinator. “Some units have been willing, but their commands (are being highly selective in the approval of flights). It has been a task to bring it all together, but we got it done.”
There are no aircraft assets assigned to Fort Lee, thus, airborne operations must be coordinated through aviation units spanning the entire region. Active duty Marine aviators from Cherry Point, N.C., supported the April 22 drop. There are roughly 20 different aviation units that support the rigger course, Pygatt said.
Despite all that has taken place to resume training, parachute rigger students seemed oblivious to the changes. Many of them were in the first few weeks of the 92-Romeo course when the pandemic-necessitated measures such as social distancing became the “new normal.” It was apparent at the airfield they had become accustomed to it. They were focused on the day’s mission – jumping a parachute they packed themselves to demonstrate confidence in their abilities. It has always been a course graduation requirement. All of that seemed to overshadow even the pandemic precautions.
“I’m just excited to jump,” said a masked Pvt. Angelica Gonzalez while waiting for her lift. “It has been a while since I’ve been up there (all students complete the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., before coming to Fort Lee), so it’s a refreshing moment for me.”
The Charlie Company, 262nd QM Battalion Soldier was one of 28 rigger students making their culmination jump. Numerous NCOs and officers also participated to keep their airborne-qualification status current.
More than 600 Parachute Rigger Course students graduate from ADFSD annually. The Fort Lee training is 14 weeks long.
By Terrance Bell
Aaron began his career in the United States Army (11M) in 1999, serving 3 years active duty and an additional 4 in the National Guard (11M). During his time in the military he served as a rifleman, squad automatic rifleman and designated marksman; receiving training in small unit tactics, close quarters combat and ballistic and mechanical breaching. After leaving active duty, Aaron worked as a private security contractor both CONUS and OCONUS; conducting convoy security, close protection details, static security and relief security during natural disasters. Aaron joined the ranks of federal law enforcement in 2009 with the Department of Defense; serving as a patrol officer. Within a year, Aaron assumed the position of In-Service training officer. Aaron held the collateral duty of Special Reaction Team member in 2009 and was promoted to Special Reaction Team Leader in 2011. Aaron was responsible for Special Reaction Team training and qualifications as well as instruction and control of the SRT Sniper Section. Aaron is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association and the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.
Founded by Marine Scout/Sniper Caylen Wojcik, Modern Day Sniper has launched an online schoolhouse to provide training in the technical aspects of precision long-range shooting, particularly as it relates to military and law enforcement applications.
The structure is more of a guided correspondence course approach, where the student purchases an entire course. Within the course, the curriculum is structured in modules, broken down just like an in-person course so that the student can have the next-best experience to being there in person and being coached. Each module will have a downloadable PDF, outlining the content of the module, which will eventually make up the Modern Day Rifleman’s manual.
The initial offering is Circle of Components, but they plan to expand quickly with Fundamentals of Marksmanship, which they believe will most likely be the most popular course they offer. after that is The Technical Rifle Hunter, Long Range Shooting 101, Positional Shooting, Tripod Shooting, Intro to Competition, and Long Range 201.
The overall goal is to become central point for information regarding military sniping and long range shooting in general.
