SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --
Shoot, Move, Communicate! Three words that have a specific undertone for the Defenders of the 916th Security Forces Squadron as they practiced the basics of “shoot, move, communicate” training at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., July 16.
“Move Up!”
“Cover!”
“Ready!”
“Moving Up!”
These are just some of the commands that rang out as Defenders rushed various barricades within the controlled environment during the training exercise.
Because team cohesion is of extreme importance in the Air Force, and perhaps even more so with our SFS personnel, this training is designed to facilitate communication and maneuvers in austere conditions with other members who have also received the same training.
“What they do here is practice simulated tactics in as close to a real-world scenario as possible,” said Maj. Samuel Murray, 916th SFS operations officer. By incorporating this training, the team refines “the ability to shoot as a team, move as a team, and then communicate as a team.”
The training is required annually and at the 916th Air Refueling Wing, it took place in a controlled environment with ‘dye-marking cartridges.’ These ‘simunition’ rounds are an aluminum-cased plastic round with a colored detergent that can be used to determine where a target or person gets hit. These rounds also enable force-on-force exercises in order to evaluate Airmen and how they react under fire.
Despite being a simulated round, the simunition can still pack a pretty good bite according to SSgt Joshua Leggett, 916th SFS fire team leader, who also indicated that when hit, you’ll definitely feel a sting.