Combat Arms Training and Maintenance
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Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM), are U.S. Air Force personnel who train base personnel in the use of small arms weaponry, oversee and maintain and repair all small arms in the Air Force inventory.
HISTORY OF USAF SMALL ARMS MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING UNIT (SAMTU) - The predecessor to Combat Arms Training and Maintenance(CATM).
"The internal defense of USAF bases and the survival of downed aircrew members may be dependent upon individual proficiency with assigned firearms. All Air Force personnel have defense responsibilities against overt and covert enemy action. To discharge these responsibilities, the fundamental military concept of competency with firearms must be reinstated within the Air Force."
-- General Curtis E. LeMay
The experience of the Korean War encouraged General LeMay to pursue a course that was to change weapons training received by Air Force Personnel. In 1958, twenty-five experienced USAF competitive shooters were selected to become the initial instructor cadre of the USAF Marksmanship Center located at Lackland AFB, TX. The marksmanship program was designed by Colonel Tom Kelly, former Commander of Holloman AFB NM, and under the direction of Colonel Peter W. Agnell. The initial cadre attended the U.S. Army's advanced rifle marksmanship coaches class at Ft. Benning, GA from 26 January to 15 February 1958. The three-week training course included coaching techniques, range management, and procedures for the preparation of marksmanship training programs. The purpose of the initial cadre was to train Small Arms instructors and gunsmiths for assignment to all Air Force bases. With these personnel as a core for the newly formed USAF Marksmanship Center, bases throughout the world began selecting personnel to be sent to the center for training. On 5 November 1958, the first class was conducted consisting of 32 students. The initial course was 12 weeks in duration and graduated qualified Small Arms instructors who returned to their bases to establish local Marksmanship Programs. The new instructors were awarded the Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) 753X0 and the expanded program included intensive training for aircrews, Air Police, Air Base Defense personnel to improve the overall weapons capability of all Air Force personnel.
In 1965, the USAF Marksmanship unit's name was formally changed to Small Arms Marksmanship Training Unit (SAMTU). This change designated what weapons the career field was responsible to train--weapons up to the .50 caliber. Besides meeting local training objectives and conducting competitive rifle and pistol matches, Small Arms specialists set up and operated specialty courses. The USAF Sniper School, located at Ft. Campbell, KY, was one of these and existed from 1965 to 1967. Its purpose was to train SAFESIDE personnel to carry out their assigned duties effectively in the Republic of Vietnam. There was also a 72-hour SEA course in operation through 1971. Its purpose was to prepare all Air Force personnel en route to Southeast Asia.
Control of the marksmanship program moved from Washington D.C. to Randolph AFB, TX, in 1978. This move was to enhance the program management. The career field again felt another change in 1982 when it was functionally restructured to report to the Air Force Office of Security Police. With this change came the redesignation to "Combat Arms Training and Maintenance" (CATM).
On Nov 1, 1993, the AFSC was changed to more closely align the career field with the Security Police career field. The new designation was 3P1X1 for CATM instructors and 3P1X1A for gunsmiths. The career field also shared the same functional badge with Security Police and OSI, which designated the basic level, the 7-level, and Senior NCO Academy graduate level.
I AM AN AIR FORCE COMBAT ARMS INSTRUCTOR “OURS IS THE PROFESSION OF ARMS” WE TRAIN IN PEACE, TO PREPARE FOR WAR
WHAT AIR FORCE Combat Arms Instructors "REDHATS" ARE ALL ABOUT
Our main goal is to instill within you, the military member, our customer, the knowledge, confidence and skills to safely handle, care for and operate the type of weapon that you are assigned so that you can protect yourself, others and all assets under the military’s control.
THE COMBAT ARMS “RED HATS” CAREER FIELD HISTORY
During the Korean War, several incidents occurred which called attention to the small arms training provided to Air Force personnel. The most significant was the tragedy at Kimpo Air Base Korea, which was overrun by a numerically superior Chinese communist force. The Air Police Squadron was so overwhelmed that they basically fought a rear guard action before being annihilated. The general base population was then easily defeated before reinforcements arrived to drive the enemy back. The remaining personnel found alive by the Chinese were hung in the main hanger on Kimpo. This hanger still stands today as a memorial to those who died without a chance to fight.
The resulting investigation revealed serious deficiencies in the way small arms training was perceived and carried out in the Air Force. Prior to the Korean War, no formal program of weapons training existed. One result was the inability of the majority of personnel at Kimpo to successfully defend themselves and the base. The majority of the base weapons were inoperable due to lack of maintenance. The few serviceable ones were of little use as personnel were not trained in their use, unable to even load or aim them. Only the Air Police were routinely trained in marksmanship and maintenance of small arms.
General Curtis LeMay took a particular interest in the findings of this investigation. He was an avid shooter himself, and clearly saw the need for all Air Force personnel to be well trained in shooting and the maintenance of small arms. As Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, 1957 - 1961 and later Chief of Staff, 1961 - 1965 General LeMay personally guided the planning for and establishment of our career field. It began with the formation of the technical school at Lackland AFB, Texas in 1958.
We were originally known as the Small Arms Marksmanship Training Unit (SAMTU). Our purpose was to prevent a recurrence of Kimpo by providing weapons training to ALL Air Force personnel except non-combatants. The Small Arms Specialist Course was established to train NCO’s to maintain base weapons and to teach small arms proficiency and maintenance to Air Force personnel. Originally, only E4’s and above were eligible for instructor duty. This requirement has since been eliminated. However one thing that hasn’t changed is our unique place as the only school of our type in the entire Department of Defense. We are the only school dedicated solely to the training of Combat Arms Instructors as a primary career field.
At the same time our career field was established, the USAF Gunsmith Shop was also created at Lackland. In addition, Air Force Shooting Teams were formed, and competed successfully in Conventional Pistol, High Power Rifle, Small Bore Rifle, Trap, Skeet, and other international events. The teams were assigned to Lackland AFB, and members performed no other duties - they were exclusively full-time competitive shooters.
Many changes have occurred in the years since our inception. Our present training concept has remained unchanged. The competitive program has been greatly de-emphasized to save money. Membership on the current Air Force shooting teams is a voluntary additional-duty and the positions are held by personnel assigned worldwide in other primary jobs. The USAF Gunsmith Shop is still located at Lackland Training Annex, and newly assigned gunsmiths now complete Block I of our school as their initial training. The name of our career field was changed 11 September 1981 to “Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM) Specialist”.
The following is our specialty summary as it appears in AFR 39-1: Instructs in Combat Arms Marksmanship, preventive maintenance of ground weapons, and range safety procedures. Operates firing ranges, inspects, maintains and repairs ground weapons. Supervises Combat Arms Training and Maintenance personnel.
Over 5000 instructors (at the time of this writing), have graduated from our school to include Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Navy, and Civilian instructors. In 1993 our career field celebrated its 35th anniversary.
It is believed by many, that we provide training to specified units. Contrary to this belief, we provide initial and recurring qualification training on small arms and heavy weapons to all Air Force personnel.
In October 1997, our career field was merged into the newly formed Security Forces career field, which includes us, the former Law Enforcement, K9, and Security troops. All new trainees will go through Security Forces tech school, and at the reenlistment point (career airman), some will be offered the opportunity to cross-train into Combat Arms or K-9.
THE CREED OF THE USAF COMBAT ARMS INSTRUCTOR
I am an Air Force Combat Arms Instructor. My country's strength lies in the men and women I train and their weapons which I maintain.
My students hold faith and place great trust in me. Their lives depend on my ability and their confidence in my integrity for in a time of war their talent will be needed.
They are to be treated with fairness and discretion for my country's resources are entrusted to their watchful eye, and their survival is in my hands.
My students I MUST NOT FAIL, My students I WILL NOT FAIL. For mine is a proud heritage and fostering it is my responsibility.
I am an Air Force Combat Arms Instructor “ours is the profession of arms” We train in peace, to prepare for war.
MAINTENANCE OF SMALL ARMS IN SUPPORT OF TRAINING AT LACKLAND AFB AND CAMP BULLIS TEXAS
By the mid 1970's there were extensive small arms maintenance facilities on Lackland AFB and at the Medina Annex. Facilities at Camp Bullis for combat security police training were more limited and weapons were transported (under guard) to and from the Medina Annex for storage and servicing. At these three locations, various individual weapons were maintained to include standard and match grade pistols and rifles. Crew served weapons such as the M-60 machine gun, 50-cal machine gun, 81mm mortar, and the 105mm recoilless rifle were also supported. There were more M-16 rifles supported than any other type of weapon. About 28 Air Force gunsmiths were assigned to support this mission. On Lackland AFB there were facilities for the storage of weapons and to perform field level servicing (cleaning and minor repairs) adjacent to marksmanship ranges. There was also an instrumented weapons testing and evaluation range. This test range was partially below ground and was used extensively to test and evaluate match grade weapons. Among the testing equipment was the capability to photograph bullets in flight and to measure muzzle velocity. At the Medina Annex, in a former National Stockpile Site (NSS) facility, there was the main office, the intermediate level repair shops, and the storage space for spare parts. Camp Bullis was a large field training area. When depot level maintenance was required to extend a weapons service life, it was forwarded to a U.S. Army small arms depot. To lower M-16 depot maintenance costs (i.e. transportation, parts, and actual repairs), an Air Force depot level small arms repair facility was established at the Medina Annex in the late 1970's. This action also contributed to the retention of Air Force purchased M-16's with chromed receivers that had a longer service life, and significantly fewer malfunctions.
