Combat Arms Trains in Peace for War

Airman fires grenade launcher at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 4, 2020. Instructors teach basic fundamentals about using firearms such as how to handle firearms, knowing the sights, tactics, different weapon attachments, weapon safety and how to fire the gun. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Quentin K. Marx)

Combat Arms Trains in Peace for War

Combat Arms Airmen and their students pose for a group photo at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb 4, 2020. Combat Arms inspects and maintains every firearm on base annually and maintains over three thousand firearms and thousands of parts as well as maintain all ammunition on base, and records of the firearms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Quentin K. Marx)

Combat Arms Trains in Peace for War

Combat Arms Security Forces Airmen teaches Airman how to aim the grenade laucncher attachment at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb. 4, 2020. Combat Arms instructors teach Security Forces Augmentee Airmen, Combat Arms Airmen, deploying Airmen, Permanent Change of Station and Air and Space Expeditionary Force individiuals who need to qualify on specific weapons systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Quentin K. Marx)

Combat Arms Trains in Peace for War

Combat Arms Security Forces Airman reloads firearm at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Feb 4, 2020. Combat Arms Airman need to qualify on certain weapons annually with a different weapon each time they practice to make sure that they can teach other Airmen that need to be trained because if the teachers do not know about the weapon they are teaching about they cannot do their jobs affectively (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Quentin K. Marx)

Combat Arms Trains in Peace for War

Published Feb. 24, 2020
By Airman Quentin K. Marx
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D -- The purpose of combat arms is to train, equip, and maintain all of the weapons for the base for personnel who use them as well as keep track of all the firearms.

“Combat arms instructors teach Security Forces augmentee Airman, other combat arms Airmen, deploying Airmen, Permanent Change of Station Airmen and Air and Space Expeditionary Force individuals who need to qualify on specific weapons systems,” said Staff Sgt. Jefferey Sales, a 28th SFS Combat Arms Instructor.

Combat Arms must make sure they are meeting Federal and Air Force guidelines with the weapons they are maintaining.

Sales explained that combat arms teaches and tests Airmen with the Basic Marksmanship Course and short range combat while at the gun range. Airmen are taught the different firing positions, such as prone supported, prone unsupported, kneeling barricade and over barricade position. Afterwards, individuals will redo every position while wearing gas mask equipment.

“Combat Arms inspects and maintains every firearm on base annually and maintains over three thousand firearms and thousands of parts for the firearms as well as maintain all ammunition on base, and records for them,” said Tech. Sgt Kellie Sawn, the 28th SFS Section Chief of Combat Arms and Armory operations.

Instructors teach basic fundamentals about using firearms such as how to handle firearms, knowing the sights, tactics, different weapon attachments, weapon safety and how to fire the gun.

“We are giving our Airmen every tool we can find, anything we have learned while being in combat arms and civilian courses to make sure that Airmen are ready to deploy and are confident with their skills, and if they leave us unconfident then that is a failure on us,” said Sawn.