39th SFS gets high-caliber training with new firearms simulator

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ray Bowden
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  More than a dozen enemy insurgents staged an assault on two Security Forces Airmen Nov. 9, some of them shooting automatic rifles while others fired rocket-propelled-grenades toward the Airmen's position.

Capt. Jonathan Richeson, 39th Security Forces Squadron training and tactics officer, and Staff Sgt. Brett Peterson, 39th SFS trainer, fired back with weapons of their own and, within moments, they eradicated half the enemy force.

Instead of occurring on the frontlines of Iraq however, this skirmish took place within the confines of Building 7290, a 39th SFS training facility, with the use of the Engagement Skills Tracker 2000.

The EST 2000 is an indoor, simulated firing range; the insurgents were digital images projected onto a large screen running the length of the building's back wall.

Captain Richeson said the EST 2000 represents the "wave of the future" when it comes to weapons training technology.

The EST 2000 consists of customized weapons, the screen training scenarios are projected onto and a computer bank which controls the device.

Staff Sgt. David Banovetz, 39th SFS systems administrator, maintains this computer bank which tracks shooters accuracy, muzzle position and number of 'hits.'

The EST 2000 can be programmed for individual or squad operations.

"It can toss a variety of scenarios at you," said Captain Richeson. "One scenario can throw 40 enemies at you at once."

Along with facing a large enemy force, shooters may also find themselves dealing with a slew of weapons malfunctions.

"Weapons stoppages and other malfunctions can be programmed into certain scenarios to train shooters how to react," said Captain Richeson.

Incirlik's EST 2000 is currently programmed with three scenarios: shoot-don't-shoot, marksmanship and collective.

Shoot-don't-shoot exercises challenge an Airmen's ability to use appropriate levels of force dependant upon the danger a situation presents. Marksmanship scenarios are similar to qualifying on an outdoor firing range while collective scenarios offer shooters more options.

"The collective scenario is more like a video game," said Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Johnson, 39th SFS trainer. "Shooters can shoot any number of enemy combatants in various field situations.

Sergeant Benovetz maintains contact with the EST 2000's civilian manufacturer to keep up-to-date on new programs and modifications that may offer a more intense level of training for SFS Airmen.

"The EST 2000 can be programmed with numerous scenarios and we can build and load more programs into the system when they become available," he said.

The system can also accommodate a variety of weapons to include the 9mm pistol, the M-4 rifle, the M-240 grenade launcher and the M-249 squad assault weapon.

"It can also be configured to accommodate the Mark-19 grenade machine gun and the 50 caliber long range sniper rifle," said Sergeant Johnson.

With all of these capabilities, the EST 2000 fills a critical security forces training void.

"We have limitations on what can and can't do here and [the EST 2000] makes up for the difference," Sergeant Johnson said.

According to Sergeant Banovetz, EST 2000 scenarios are very realistic.

"It's probably as close to the real thing as you can get without actually being under fire," he said.