Features

Close quarters battle: 435 SFS perfect assault techniques

Story and photos by Senior Airman Milton Hamilton
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
August 6, 2020

What looked like an abandoned office building on the outskirts of Ramstein’s flightline turned out to be the perfect setting for the 435th Security Forces Squadron to conduct close quarters battle training July 28.

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 435th Security Forces Squadron aims his M-4 carbine rifle down a hall during close quarters battle training at Ramstein Air Base, July 28. The 435 SFS Airmen implemented several scenarios during the CQB training to simulate real world threats.

“We hone these skills because we could potentially be put in situations where we have to clear out a house or a hangar on an empty airfield, which still may be occupied by an enemy force,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ross Caldwell, 435th SFS team chief. “We work as a team and try to get in each other’s heads to see how we work under stress when things get hard, dynamic or very obscure.”

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 435th Security Forces Squadron practice building clearing techniques during close quarters battle training at Ramstein Air Base, July 28. The indoor training facility provided the Airmen the ability to practice strategic movements around corners, building clearing techniques and communication skills between their assault teams.

The indoor training facility provided the Airmen the opportunity to practice strategic movements around corners, building clearing techniques and hone communication skills between their assault teams.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cordell Linscomb, 435th Security Forces Squadron armory noncommissioned officer in charge, hands out M-4 carbine rifles to Airmen assigned to the 435th SFS before close quarters battle training at Ramstein Air Base, July 28. The CQB training was conducted at a structure specifically designated for indoor firing.

“We participate in a lot of exercises and integrate ourselves with other units such as special forces and tactical air control party specialists,” Caldwell said. “They know we have the facilities to train and, ultimately, this helps to strengthen interoperability with other forces.”
The 435th SFS Airmen incorporated several scenarios during the CQB training to simulate real-world threats. They critiqued each movement and fired blank rounds throughout the structure as a sort of capstone event.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Lance Munsee, 435th Security Forces Squadron contingency response team member, clears a corner during close quarters battle training at Ramstein Air Base, July 28. The Airmen honed skills that could be used to clear a house or hangar that may be occupied by an enemy force.

“CQB is a very perishable skill,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ulysses Ortiz, 435th SFS fire team member. “If we don’t constantly train we’ll get rusty at it. As security forces members, we do an array of jobs. We never know when we’ll be called to a situation where we have to use these skills, so that makes this training even more important.”

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 435th Security Forces Squadron practices trigger discipline during close quarters battle training at Ramstein Air Base, July 28. Trigger discipline is when an Airmen keeps his or her finger outside of the trigger guard area, until ready to fire. The Airman honed skills that could be used to clear a house or hangar that may be occupied by an enemy force.

As a component of the 435th Contingency Response Group, U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s only expeditionary open-the-base force, the 435th SFS is integral in ensuring the ability to build forward operating bases and conduct air operations in austere environments anywhere in the U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility.

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