News>Feature - Air Force sniper team practices at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Photos
Senior Master Sgt. Nathan Brett and Staff Sgt. George Reinas, both sniper-qualified Airmen in the Air Force, practice a scenario on a range on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on July 27, 2011. Brett and Reinas were the event coordinators for the advanced marksmanship event for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Brett is the superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and Reinas is a security forces combat skill instructor in the 421st CTS. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
Staff Sgt. George Reinas, a sniper-qualified Airman in the Air Force, practices a scenario on a range on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on July 27, 2011. Reinas was one of the event coordinators for the advanced marksmanship event for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Reinas is a security forces combat skill instructor in the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
Staff Sgt. George Reinas, a sniper-qualified Airman in the Air Force, prepares for a scenario on a range on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on July 27, 2011. Reinas was one of the event coordinators for the advanced marksmanship event for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Reinas is a security forces combat skill instructor in the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
by Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
8/4/2011 - JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- Senior Master Sgt. Nathan Brett and Staff Sgt. George Reinas practiced as an Air Force sniper team on a range here, July 27. They are among a rare group of individuals in the Air Force security forces field.
Brett and Reinas are both certified Air Force snipers with the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Both were also event coordinators for the advanced marksmanship competition for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 here July 24-29.
One of the weapons they used in the competition, and in their team practice, was the M-24 sniper rifle.
The M-24 sniper weapon system is a militarized version of civilian-made rifle, according to a U.S. Army fact sheet. It was adopted as the Army's primary sniper weapon in 1988 and is called a weapon system because in addition to the rifle, it can come with a detachable sight and other accessories.
"The M-24 is a very effective weapon system," said Reinas. "It's one of the standard weapons used for Air Force by snipers and has an maximum effective range as far as 1,500 meters. A sniper team, using the weapon correctly, can be very deadly in a combat situation."
Brett said he hopes the recent Rodeo 2011 competition will help build more awareness around the Air Force and the military about the importance of the sniper program and the capability they bring to the fight.
"We want to establish an identity to the Air Force sniper program," said Brett, who is also the superintendent for the 421st CTS. "This competition offers a look into where we are today with the program and where we need to make improvements. I would like to see this program go back where it once was."
An Air Force sniper team consists of a shooter and a spotter. The shooter, for example, can use an M-24 weapon system, and the spotter is often equipped with a high-grade spotting scope. As a team, they get rounds on target.
"It takes a lot of practice to be a well-trained sniper team," Brett said. "There's not a lot of us in the Air Force, but we are capable to go anywhere a sniper team is needed because of that training."
Reinas added, "A sniper team is a two-person team with both people capable of either shooting the rifle or using the spotting scope. That's why we practice, often on our own time, to make sure we are at our best."
Comments
8/11/2011 2:32:52 AM ET @JB, maybe you need to read my comment again. The AF does not have a formal sniper program. It is not a career specific job. It is, for a lack of a better term, an additional duty. My comments have been fact-based, straight forward and professional. PS, What would I congratulate them on? Did they did win some competition at the rodeo? No, they put on a demonstration for AMC personnel to try to get funding for a program that doesn't exist yet.
Mo, MidSouth
8/10/2011 11:15:59 PM ET SMSgt Brett, SSgt Reinas, and the entire team at the 421st CTS accomplish the missions they're assigned with professionalism and passion. The Air Force has trained them to be snipers so they are Air Force snipers. However their daily mission is more than that. The great Airmen of the 421st train Air Force forces to deploy in harms way and employ skills not routinely associated with Air Force personnel. These great Americans do their part to ensure their trainees are prepared to shoot move and communicate inside and outside the wire. This article shows the diverse talents of our Air Force members and honors the contribution of the USAF Expeditionary Center in today's fight.
CMSgt Ron Mahoney, JBMDL
8/10/2011 1:02:52 PM ET Sgt. Reinas was offensive and a bad representation of the Air Force for most of the season of Top Shot. I will say he redeemed himself on the last episode. He was arrogant, foul mouthed, and downplayed other service members the whole season.
DEC, MO
8/10/2011 12:53:34 PM ET @ Mo, you sound like another one of those washed up grunts who thinks there is no way a Fly-Boy can do what you hardcore warriors do. I don't think the article insinuated that this was a full time job and never took anything away from those who do it as such. Put your testosterone aside for a minute and maybe give a congrats instead of trying to discount it.
JB, FL
8/10/2011 2:28:37 AM ET No hate, just stating a fact. He might have gone to sniper school but like I said, it is a full time job. And the AF does not employ personnel in the same manner as the Army or the USMC do. They employ them in a direct action/offensive role; the AF in a defensive role. I watched some of the Top Shot shows. I and others I know frankly were not impressed.
Mo, MidSouth
8/9/2011 9:36:38 AM ET Sounds like a bunch of haters to me. If you watched Top Shot Season II you'd know that Sgt. Reinas is the real deal and actually takes pride in his trade regardless of its a full time gig or not
G, Pentagon
8/8/2011 11:59:01 AM ET The AF does not have snipers. A military sniper is a full-time occupation, not an additional duty or add-on training. Some AF personnel may have attended sniper school but that just means they are sniper qualififed.
Mo, MidSouth
8/6/2011 9:55:42 AM ET Yes, they are actually. Counter Snipers are more in line with the role of a police LE sniper. They aren't like Army or Marine snipers which are REAL snipers in the sense of the term. The AF finally had to set up its own sharpshooter school because not enough AF SF members were able to pass the Army NG DM course in Little Rock or the actual Army sniper school at Benning.
CD, WA
8/5/2011 3:58:46 AM ET Did the name change again? Last I recall the Air Force did not have snipers as they were not offensive assets. They were designated as counter-snipers as they were purely defensive assets. Or even a Close Precision Engagement Team just to keep the confusion going has been tossed out a time or two as well. As I remember, their mission is purely defensive in manner. Air Base Defense and area denial.
