Airmen and Guardians will once again carry practice weapons during their nearly eight weeks of basic military training, a change that Department of the Air Force officials say is needed amid rising global tensions.
Air Education and Training Command officials announced the change this week, stating in a press release that “it’s crucial for national security to inculcate a warfighter mindset immediately upon arrival” to boot camp. The practice M4 rifles will be carried around by airmen trainees and Guardians as they progress through their transformation from civilians into service members.
“Incorporating practice weapons into realistic scenarios in a controlled environment builds confidence, corrects errors, and manages stress by providing regular practice that reduces hesitation and increases combat effectiveness,” Col. Billy Wilson Jr., the 737th Training Group commander, said in a news release.
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While Army recruits and Marine Corps poolees have long carried rifles during boot camp, the Air Force stopped having airmen carry their practice rifles in 2012 when it paused the Trainer Weapon Program, the service said. It’s now reinstated it for airmen and also introduced the program to Guardians. It comes as the Department of the Air Force prepares for what the military terms “great power competition” — jargon used to describe increased attention,…
