354 SFS defenders hone low-light shooting, tactics

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIESLON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Red lasers painted black silhouettes and a haze of burnt gun powder hung in the still 20 degree air as streaks of light speed into a snow-filled field beyond paper targets.

With little light, the number of holes punched in the targets would remain a mystery until after the volley of rounds.

Each shooter would need 22 of their 32 rounds to penetrate the paper targets to qualify.

Combat arms training instructors from the 354th Security Forces Squadron conducted the low-light shooting qualification and training session Nov. 4, utilizing tracer rounds, flashlights, laser sights, and night vision goggles.

The training helped reinforce low-light marksmanship and gave newer members of the squadron an opportunity to train on unfamiliar equipment such as the NVGs.

"Members of this squadron work all hours of the night and will use these skill on deployments throughout their career," said Staff Sgt. Stephanie Marshall, a 354th SFS combat arms training instructor. "In addition to night shifts, the unique location we live in gets little to no light throughout the winter."

With billions of dollars in assets and thousands of service members and dependents in the perimeter of the gates, base defenders need the low-light shooting skills to ensure the installation is secure at all times.

For some of the sentries, this qualification was their first experience with NVGs.

"I was amazed at how far you can see," said Airman 1st Class Hannah Janicki, a 354th SFS response force member. "The moon's light illuminated the mountains far beyond the base and the targets yards in front of us were basically clear as day."

With the device strapped to her forehead giving just one eye the advantage of improved night vision, Janicki said the biggest challenge was focusing both eyes while they were seeing different shades.

"Aiming was a challenge," she said. "I was a bit nervous qualifying would be more difficult."

Marshall explained the challenges the shooters experienced were the exact reason for the training and why it is imperative to an Airman's safety in a fight.

"Donning these things and firing isn't part of the muscle memory defenders have developed through many days on the range," she explained. "We shoot day courses constantly, but it's equally important to stay proficient at night. Each one of our tools working in conjunction is what gives us the advantage over an enemy."

As the afternoon sun came up behind the targets, the perforations in the paper created a lightshow, proof that the shooters were qualified to keep the base safe no matter the illumination condition.