FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Twenty-five members of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Attack Wing Security Forces Squadron honed their heavy weapons proficiency during annual qualification training May 16–22.
The training focused on familiarization and live-fire certification with a range of crew-served and specialized weapons systems, including the M320 grenade launcher, M249 and M240B machine guns, Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher, M2.50-caliber machine gun, and the M110A1 sniper rifle.
“It’s all about readiness and keeping people current and familiar with how to properly implement these weapon systems downrange,” said Staff Sgt. Colin King of Cambria, New York, a combat arms trainer with the squadron. “Especially since next year is a deployment year—it’s a big deal.”
All Security Forces personnel are required to qualify with grenade launchers and machine guns, though they are typically assigned only one of these weapon systems during a deployment.
They also carry their standard-issue M4 carbine and M18 9mm pistol.
Select Airmen are trained for the squadron’s Special Weapons and Tactics team, operating the M2, Mk 19 and sniper systems in specialized mission sets.
Qualification on the M110A1 sniper rifle is limited to those who demonstrate advanced marksmanship and complete the two-week Advanced Designated Marksman Course held at Fort Bliss, Texas.
“That’s my favorite firearm to train with—the M110,” King said. “It’s so satisfying making first-round impacts at distance. But the M2 is a very, very close second.”
The unit previously conducted this training at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan. However, logistical considerations made the move to Fort Indiantown Gap more practical.
“Cutting through Canada was a ‘shorter’ trip,” joked one Airman, who asked not to be identified. “But since we have to bring all our weapons and ammo with us, we can’t go through the border. So whoever’s driving the gear has to loop around. It adds two or three hours.”
Fort Indiantown Gap is an 18,000-acre training center operated by the Pennsylvania National Guard. Located in Lebanon County, the installation supports over 100,000 service members annually. It has ranked among the top three busiest National Guard training centers nationwide since 2013, according to its official website.
Originally authorized in 1931 to replace a 120-acre training area in Mount Gretna, the installation was completed in 1940. Since then, the installation has contributed to every major U.S. military engagement by providing basic and advanced training, mobilization processing, staging for deployments and leadership development for service members across all branches.