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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Master Sgt. Leigh Weigold, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron section chief of plans and programs, fires her weapon at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. As the largest career field in the Air Force, it’s the job of Security Forces to protect, defend and fight to enable U.S. Air Force, Joint and Coalition missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)Zeroing weapons, increasing Defenders’ lethality
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Leigh Weigold, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron section chief of plans and programs, fires her weapon at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. As the largest career field in the Air Force, it’s the job of Security Forces to protect, defend and fight to enable U.S. Air Force, Joint and Coalition missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)
                
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        Airmen assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron dispose brass bullet casings at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. Security Forces Airmen are responsible for missile security, defending air bases around the globe, law enforcement on those bases, combat arms and handling military working dogs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)Zeroing weapons, increasing Defenders’ lethality
                        
                        
                        Airmen assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron dispose brass bullet casings at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. Security Forces Airmen are responsible for missile security, defending air bases around the globe, law enforcement on those bases, combat arms and handling military working dogs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)
                
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        Staff Sgt. Bradley Nendel, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of armory, supervises an Airman zeroing their weapon at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. Security Forces Airmen are responsible for missile security, defending air bases around the globe, law enforcement on those bases, combat arms and handling military working dogs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)Zeroing weapons, increasing Defenders’ lethality
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Bradley Nendel, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of armory, supervises an Airman zeroing their weapon at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. Security Forces Airmen are responsible for missile security, defending air bases around the globe, law enforcement on those bases, combat arms and handling military working dogs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)
                
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        Staff Sgt. Bradley Nendel, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, performs an operational check on an M4 Carbine weapon at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. The M4 is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock, and is now the standard issue firearm for most units in the U.S. military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)Zeroing weapons, increasing Defenders’ lethality
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Bradley Nendel, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, performs an operational check on an M4 Carbine weapon at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. The M4 is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock, and is now the standard issue firearm for most units in the U.S. military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)
                
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        Master Sgt. Kurt Musson, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of combat arms, provides sight corrections at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. The 380th ESFS members used the method of “zeroing” their weapons – firing live rounds to ensure the accuracy as opposed to the method of bore sighting – a less reliable technique. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)Zeroing weapons, increasing Defenders’ lethality
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Kurt Musson, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of combat arms, provides sight corrections at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 8, 2019. The 380th ESFS members used the method of “zeroing” their weapons – firing live rounds to ensure the accuracy as opposed to the method of bore sighting – a less reliable technique. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby)
                
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Zeroing weapons, increasing defenders’ lethalityPublished March 15, 2019
                    
                    By Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby
                    
                    
                    380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
            **AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates (AFNS) --**The 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron participated in firing live rounds for the first time in nearly four years at Al Dhafra Air Base, March 8.
The members used the method of “zeroing” their weapons – firing live rounds to ensure the accuracy as opposed to the method of bore sighting – a less reliable technique.
“Because (Al Dhafra AB) Security Forces is not authorized to bring their home station weapons, in-place weapons must be sighted for accuracy to the individual, known as ‘zeroing,’” said Master Sgt. Kurt Musson, 380th ESFS noncomissioned officer in charge of combat arms. “Without the access to a live-fire range, combat arms has had to use a method of bore sighting to adjust each individual weapon to the particular shooter. Bore sighting uses a laser within the rifle barrel to mimic the path of a projectile. While fairly accurate at short range, it is considerably inaccurate at full distance. The most accurate method of zeroing is live-fire.”
With this being the first time in years that Al Dhafra AB defenders can shoot at the range, they were gratified by this new achievement.
“It is daily business for me back home,” said Staff Sgt. Bradley Nendel, 380th ESFS amory NCOIC. “To see it completed and the opportunity afforded here at Al Dhafra AB where it didn’t previously exist, gives a true sense of accomplishment.”
This new capability is set to ensure Al Dhafra AB’s readiness not only to benefit the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, but the U.S. Air Forces Central Command.
“For now, the range will be used as a rotational zero-fire operation, eventually lending the opportunity for a full-scale Shoot, Move and Communicate course for defender proficiency,” Musson said. “When it comes to readiness, one main example comes to mind. Defenders often get forward deployed from this unit to other locations within AFCENT. Some locations may be viewed as higher threat locations, some not. Either way, they will be more prepared to fulfill whatever mission they’re given and can have confidence in the fact that their weapon system, if needed, will be accurate in the defense of their commander’s goals.”
Through the hard work of the members of the 380th ESFS Combat Arms team, other 380th AEW units, and the partnership between host nation, the defenders can now execute this critical training. This opportunity has given Al Dhafra AB’s defenders’ a better expectation of staying ready at a moment’s notice. This is all due to teamwork within the unit and the wing.
”The wing’s Weapons Safety Office, Master Sgt. James Ross, played a huge roll in this endeavor,” Musson said. “He and I spent a lot of time researching, planning and organizing to ensure we had a foolproof product to present to the wing commander. We completed a range inspection and risk assessment in order to define particular risk mitigation principles necessary for the commander’s approval and ultimately, AFCENT endorsement.”
With weapons literally going hand-in-hand with the defenders’ mission, members of Al Dhafra AB came together to increase the lethality of this dangerous crew.
“It feels great knowing that we have done our part to strengthen the mission of (Al Dhafra AB),” Musson said. “It also feels amazing to know that through this effort, which was more than just combat arms, it also included the 577th (Expeditionary Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers) Squadron, Weapons Safety and 380th Medical Group Bioenvironmental, we are able to give all defenders the confidence in their most important tool, their weapon.”380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron 



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