SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing use the M-9 front sight to line up a target during training, Feb. 12, 2010. During the training, Airmen also practice loading procedures, clearing procedures and proper weapon cleaning. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Senior Airman Mallory Burrous, 916th Air Refueling Wing aircrew flight equipment reservist, inserts the barrel into the slide assembly of an M-9 during training, Feb. 12, 2010. The slide assembly consists of the decocking lever, firing pin, extractor, barrel, firing pin block, locking block and sights. Airman Burrous is from Swansboro, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Staff Sgt. Mia Hackett, 4th Security Forces Squadron combat arms instructor (right), demonstrates a dominant eye test for Senior Airman Trisha Arena, 916th Air Refueling Wing aircrew flight equipment reservist, before M-9 weapon qualification, Feb. 12, 2010. The test identifies the dominate eye which looks directly at an object and the nondominant eye, which looks at the same object but at a slight angle. Sergeant Hackett hails from Seattle and Airman Arena is from Chicago. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- A loaded 15-round magazine waits to be fired during M-9 weapons training, Feb. 12, 2010. After the completion of classroom training, Airmen must fire the weapon for qualification, which requires 35 out of 45 rounds to hit the target. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airman 1st Class Marissa Tucker, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs journalist, loads ammo into M-9 magazines during training, Feb. 12, 2010. Prior to deploying, all Airmen must attend training and qualify on their required weapons. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Senior Airman Mallory Burrous, 916th Air Refueling Wing aircrew flight equipment reservist, fires at a target during M-9 training, Feb. 12, 2010. As a requirement to qualify on the M-9, the Airmen must fire at a target from three distances in a given amount of time: 7 meters in eight seconds, 15 meters in 10 seconds and 25 meters in 25 seconds. Airman Burrous is from Swansboro, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Staff Sgt. Mia Hackett, 4th Security Forces Squadron combat arms instructor, counts qualifying holes on a target during M-9 qualifications, Feb. 12, 2010. For an Airman to qualify on the M-9, 35 rounds must hit the target. Sergeant Hackett hails from Seattle. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

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Photos: Ready, aim, fire!

Published Feb. 16, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Combat arms instructors are security forces personnel, who train the base populace on the use of firearms and oversee, maintain and repair all firearms in the Air Force inventory.

On a daily basis, the instructors from the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadrons train Airmen on weapons safety, cleaning, assembly, disassembly and the fundamentals of shooting. During training, students also practice loading procedures and proper weapons clearing.

At the completion of the classroom portion of instruction, Airmen must demonstrate their understanding of the weapon by firing, clearing, reloading and cleaning it.