LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Their bodies ached as they low crawled through the mud in the rain and near-freezing temperature. It was an experience that would prepare them for combat.
Staff Sgt. Chad Eckles and Senior Airman Dustin Sweeny from the 1st Security Forces Squadron recently completed the Advanced Designed Marksman Course at Camp Robinson, Ark.
The 15 day program was created because the Air Force needed sharpshooters who could accurately lay ground fire at 600 meters, observe surroundings from elevated firing positions and protect personnel in and outside the wire.
"I've always wanted to do this sort of training since I was a little kid," said Sergeant Eckles. "It's one of the things the Air Force has brought for me to accomplish my goal."
One of the more challenging parts of the course included the instructors requiring the students to perform flutter kicks, push-ups, run up and down a hill, roll right and roll left, all while making sure they followed directions, said Airman Sweeney.
"While screaming in our faces, they'd have us run up the hill again and scream, 'shoot, shoot, shoot'," he said. "We then had to hit the ground, find the target and shoot.
This exercise was called stress firing. It tested their ability to hit the target while under physical and mental stress.
"This taught me that fundamentals of marksmanship are key," said Airman Sweeney. "If your breathing is wrong your trigger pull is bad, and if you don't get a good focus on your target you aren't going to hit your target."
To be eligible these Airmen had to have a physical training score of 80 or above, correctable 20/20 vision, and be an expert with the M-4 carbine. They had to carry an 80 pound rucksack, plus a weapon, for three miles in order to be qualified for the ADM course.
"ADM teams specialize in counter equipment and personnel tactics," explained Michael Glunk, Air Combat Command's security forces contingency program manager. "If someone is driving a truck, it's best to deploy someone who can fire one or two shots through the vehicle's engine rather than several hundred rounds. In environments like Iraq, this is ideal because it minimizes collateral damage."
Langley was selected to have ADM teams because of its proximity to long-range ranges like Fort A.P. Hill, Va., and the availability of people we can deploy for this specialized mission, he said.
There will be more than one ADM team at Langley, he added.
Because of Sergeant Eckles' and Airman Sweeney's new capabilities, their next deployment will be as Advanced Designated Marksmen later this year.