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380AEW Article

3 deployed Airmen, 200-plus weapons: 1 secure wing

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson
  • 380th AEW Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Three members of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here swapped out the last of 235 hand guards on the unit's cache of M-4 carbines Wednesday.

The modification will provide critical upgrades to the current capabilities of the weapon.

"This upgrade benefits the mission by providing our security forces members with the most up-to-date weapons-related equipment," said Tech. Sgt. Steven Coulter, 380th ESFS noncommissioned officer in charge of the combat arms section.

Providing perimeter and aircraft security as well as cantonment-area support for a deployed base requires top-notch equipment and training.

"When we have the ability to provide better equipment, we provide it," said Maj. Chris Bromen, 380th ESFS commander. "These Airmen are entrusted with the security of the people and the assets on this installation; those are two things we don't take chances on."

Currently each security forces member on patrol carries an M-4 carbine. "The carbine is lightweight, 7.5 pounds with a 30-round magazine, making it easier to carry and use," said Senior Airman Aaron Cornwell, a security forces armorer deployed from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The air-cooled, gas-operated weapon can fire 700 to 970 rounds per minute. It is a magazine-fed, shoulder-fired weapon with a muzzle not long enough to allow it to join the rifle family.

"The M-4 is a versatile weapon. With the right adapters it can support night vision and the M203 grenade launcher," said Staff Sgt. Cole Rhese, 380th ESFS combat arms. "The M203 allows us to launch five to seven grenades per minute."

Both of those conversions, however, are only possible with the upgrades Sergeant Coulter and his team are installing.

"By swapping these hand guards we're allowing the grenadier to carry one weapon while maintaining several response options, something we can't currently do," said Sergeant Coulter, the Springfield, Ore., native.

Prior to changing the hand guards, a member would have to swap weapons to be able to have night vision capability or to go to grenade launching capability.

"With the new hand guards we can place night-vision equipment on the weapons; they also give our Airmen the ability to carry the same weapon on a day-to-day basis," Sergeant Coulter explained. "It's much better for an Airman to carry a weapon that's zeroed to him or her specifically instead of one that is mechanically zeroed; you can't do that if you have to swap out when you need to change capabilities."

The combat arms team completed the upgrades on the 200-plus weapons over a two-week period. It took just three Airmen, with the right equipment and a little time to improve an entire squadron's capabilities.