BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Staff Sgt. Michael Roecker, 460th Civil Engineer Squadron, fires his M4 carbine during the qualification firing round Sept. 19, 2012, at the small arms range. Roecker participated in the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance M4 carbine course to meet yearly job qualifications. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Senior Airman Roshaunda Oatis, 460th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructor, demonstrates how to properly disassemble an M4 carbine Sept. 19, 2012, at the CATM classroom. The classroom portion of the M4 carbine course includes weapon safety, loading and unloading, assembly and disassembly, and firing procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Tech. Sgt. Leeane Witherspoon, 460th Space Communications Squadron, fires practice rounds Sept. 19, 2012, at the small arms range. Students are given practice rounds to make sight adjustments before the qualification round. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Senior Airman Roshaunda Oatis, 460th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructor, announces firing instructions to the students Sept. 19, 2012, at the small arms range. Students must complete a variety of firing tasks to receive their weapons qualification. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Army Sgt. Anthony Andrews, 460th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructor, assists Senior Airman Michael Ellis, 566th Intelligence Squadron, with proper firing technique Sept. 19, 2012, at the small arms range. Proper technique is taught to ensure students have correct form while firing their weapon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
by By Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson
460th Space Wing Public Affairs
10/1/2012 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Every year, the 460th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance Section keeps hundreds of warfighters mission ready.
"The Air Force needs CATM instructors in order to ensure those coming into the Air Force know how to use the weapon. For some individuals, their job requires them to have a weapon with them at all times, and it is CATM instructors' responsibility that they know how to use the weapon. Also, individuals who deploy have to be able to qualify on the weapons they have to take with them in order to go on that deployment," said Senior Airman Roshaunda Oatis, 460th Security Forces Squadron CATM instructor.
Nearly every Air Force installation has a CATM unit that trains Air Force members on many different weapon systems. The 460th SFS CATM is unique as it offers training to all service branches and civilians on weapon systems ranging from the M4 carbine and M16A2 rifle to the M9 and M11 pistols.
Buckley's CATM provides training for Air Force Office of Special Investigations special agents, security forces members, deployers requiring current qualifications, security forces augmentees and those who must qualify annually per job requirements.
To keep their eye on target, Air Force CATM instructors follow a traditional creed that states, "My students hold faith and place great trust in me. Their lives depend on my ability and their confidence in my integrity, for in a time of war their talent will be sorely needed."
To ensure members have that talent, whether at war or on a daily basis, CATM offers a standard weapons qualification course that consists of two portions: classroom instruction and qualification firing at the range.
While in the classroom students are taught weapon safety, loading and unloading, assembly and disassembly, proper cleaning, firing techniques, sight adjustments, and function of specific weapon parts.
At the firing range students must demonstrate weapon safety at all times. Students are also required to fire from a variety of positions and distances to include prone, kneeling and standing from seven, 15 and 25 meters away. A minimum score must be met to qualify on the weapon.
For Oatis, the greatest reward is "knowing that I was able to teach someone how to properly handle a weapon, as well as contribute to sending people downrange to handle the overall mission," she said. "To me, teaching is a reward in itself."
While the 460th SFS CATM is responsible for keeping members of Team Buckley proficient with their assigned weapons to protect local assets, CATM also ensures members are comfortable enough with their weapons should they be required to protect themselves, their unit or other assets while at a deployed location. Airmen deploy regularly from Buckley, and CATM ensures they are confident and capable with their weapons.
"My contribution - although at times it seems minor since I'm doing something that I love to do - is ensuring that everyone on the installation that is assigned a weapon is proficient to handle as well as fire that weapon when tasked to do so," said Oatis.
