CATM reopens

Staff. Sgt. Nathaniel Fiet, 39th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructor, gives Staff Sgt. Bobby Mangham, 39th Air Base Wing Command Post, a few pointers before he fires an M-9 Berretta for qualification May 16. The CATM range recently reopened after a five-month closure for the installation of new equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin WIlson)

CATM reopens

Staff Sgt. Keith Corcoran, 39th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructor, demonstrates how to fire the M-9 Berretta in the left-side barricaded position during the first CATM class held since the reopening of the range. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin WIlson)

Incirlik CATM reopens with a BANG

Published June 2, 2008
By Senior Airman Heather Stanton
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK ARI BASE, Turkey -- Incirlik's Combat Arms Training and Maintenance range has reopened after a five month equipment upgrade, during which a new total containment trap was installed in order to minimize ricochet hazards to Airmen and lead pollution in the environment.

"The new TCT protects shooters by eliminating dangerous splatter, ricochet and lead dust build up," said Tech. Sgt. Yvonne Groves, 39th Security Forces CATM noncommissioned officer in charge. "It also protects the environment by collecting lead fragments into sealable containers, vacuuming and filtering lead dust, and not incorporating potentially hazardous materials like rubber, oil or contaminated water."

Not only does it protect shooters and the environment, the TCT protects Incirlik's budget by eliminating high maintenance and cleaning costs, said Sergeant Groves.

"While we're always looking to improve our processes, the range is a particularly crucial piece of our training puzzle," said Lt. Col. James Collins, 39 SFS commander. "My CATM staff has definitely adapted and overcame equipment deficiencies in the past, but it's always nice to see this level of improvement."

Due to range personnel preparing beforehand, the CATM range closure didn't hinder the operations tempo of Incirlik.

"We 'spun up' those Airmen scheduled for training during the closure before December," said Sergeant Groves. "There were a couple of incidents where Airmen had last-minute taskings and we could not provide training. In those cases, we worked closely with our CATM counterparts at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and acquired training slots for them up there."

Incirlik's CATM range is also used for training Turkish Air Force Airmen.

"We share the range with the Turkish Air Force," said Sergeant Groves. "They use the range the first two weeks of every month and we have the other two."

Incirlik's CATM instructors train Airmen in several weapon systems.

"We teach the M-9 and M-11 hand gun, M-16 rifle and M-203 grenade launcher Air Force qualification courses here," said Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Fiet, 39 SFS CATM instructor. CATM instructors also teach the M-11 practical pistol course and the M-4 tactical rifle qualification course.

The range is for CATM training only and not for personal use.

For more information, contact CATM at 676-6383.