MAFB Airmen visit Helena for weapons training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. R.J. Biermann
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  More than 20 Malmstrom Air Force Base Airmen and civilians visited Fort Harrison Army National Guard Post in Helena, Mont., on Feb. 26 and 27 to complete weapons qualification training.

Malmstrom's 341st Security Support Squadron Combat Arms office, responsible for conducting all base marksmanship instruction and qualification training, led the M240B machine gun and M249 automatic rifle courses.

"Airmen had to qualify on these weapons on a full [1,000 meter] range. Our [on-base] range is only 10 meters," said Les Christensen, 341st SSPTS Combat Arms supervisor. "This range is more realistic. You're getting the full effect and seeing how far your bullets can reach. Shooting full distance is just so much better than shooting a piece of paper. I get instant feedback on a pop-up range."

Christensen could not understate the importance of an Airman's understanding of these weapon systems.

"You're getting more rounds downrange and they're more accurate with the M240B and M249 than an M4 on three-round burst," Christensen said. "The weapon's main mission is to support the rifleman while they assault a position. The M249 and M240B can put down heavy fire to keep the enemy's head down."

Before visiting the field, Airmen spent two days in a classroom setting, learning each weapon's nomenclature and how to load, clear, assemble, disassemble, inspect, mount, and perform function checks on it; as well as several other essential techniques to engage targets.

"This class is certainly more hands-on because it's not a weapon Airmen often use," said Jeff Bragg, 341st SSPTS Combat Arms instructor. "We actually moved the class to a larger room and hosted it with little manning."

Once in the field, Airmen donned their protective equipment, which included body armor, a helmet, a gas mask, safety glasses and gloves. Throughout the M240B course, held the first day of training, students fired 1,200 rounds from three positions. Students fired their weapon mounted on a Humvee and from the prone position with their weapon mounted on a bipod and tripod.

"I loved firing the M240B," said Airman 1st Class ChristpherJerome Reinbold, 819th RED HORSE Squadron heavy equipment operator. "It's really accurate and has few jams and stoppages "I know that understanding the weapon could mean my life on the line."

Reinbold, a Washington state native, had never fired a gun until basic military training. The two-day class marked his first time firing the M240B and M249 as well.

The firing line was set up with three dismounted weapons and one weapon mounted in a Humvee turret.

"Using the three positions allows the students to see the difference in accuracy when engaging the enemy," Christensen said. "The bipod position is traditionally an offensive position, the gunner is able to lay down suppressive fire quickly and is able to reposition if necessary. The tripod position, the most stable position, is traditionally a defensive position. The vehicle-mounted position is used during convoy operations. It allows the gunner to lay down suppressive fire during convoy movement."

On the command of "fire," three Airmen fired 500 rounds from the bipod position at pop-up targets from 100 meters out to 1,000 meters. When each shooter finished firing from their position, they transitioned to the Humvee where they fired 100 rounds. After firing from the vehicle, they transitioned to the tripod and fired 100 rounds wearing their gas mask, then an additional 500 rounds without it.

On the second day of training, during the M249 course, four Airmen were positioned on the firing line at a time. From here they shot 200 rounds and were required to conduct a barrel change.

"When you shoot 200 rounds in 10 to 11 seconds, your barrel turns white hot. So this barrel needs to be swapped out frequently," Christensen said. "To reload either weapon, the gunner must first clear it. Then they put on the heat mitt and release the barrel, pick up the other barrel, look through it to ensure there are no obstructions, lock the replacement barrel in place and tap it forward to ensure its locked in place."

According to Christensen, if the barrel does overheat it would cause rounds to fire before being chambered, causing 52,000 pounds of pressure to possibly impact the gunner causing serious injury.

The courses marked Malmstrom Airmens' first time returning to Fort Harrison in more than two years. Christensen hopes to hold the next M240B and M249 courses sometime this summer.