Photo By Mark Abueg | Alfonso Santa takes aim with a practice handgun before going out to the range to shoot...... read more read more
WINCHESTER, Va. – As an architect, Alfonso Santa is used to sketching plans on paper, so his teammates would forgive him if drawing a weapon from his holster looked a bit awkward.
Little did they know, and perhaps even Santa himself, that he was a natural born gunslinger.
He and the 579th Engineer Detachment (Forward Engineer Support Team - Main) conducted firearms training at the BSR, Inc. firing range yesterday as part of its weeklong Army Individual Training Awareness Class training.
On the cold, wet day, Santa and the FEST-M began with a weapons familiarization and shooting techniques training in the classroom. They learned to use the Beretta 92F handgun most of the day, and would also shoot the AK-47, M4 carbine, and a shotgun to conclude their weapons training.
“About three months ago, I took my classes for a concealed weapons permit and shot a 22 long rifle,” Santa said. “But this is the first time where they [the instructors] went step-by-step with you with a weapon very clearly: explained the situations, posture and everything. The concealed weapons class basically explained to you the law and what you can do with the weapon.”
Even though Santa was placed in the group for more basic training with the handgun, he seemed to get the hang of things quickly.
“I was very comfortable because the instructor was very thorough,” he said.”
Dave, a BSR, Inc. instructor who asked that his last name not be identified, acknowledged that the class was twofold.
“I want a couple of things,” he said. “Number one is to build people’s confidence because so much of shooting is mental and so little is physical and tactical. If your confidence level is greater, then you are going to shoot better. The second is to eliminate some false ideas people bring with them about what works and what doesn’t work.”
Above all, Dave wants everyone who goes through the course to have some fun.
“If they have some fun with it, then they want to do it more and they’ll put themselves in the environment with well-trained and knowledgeable instructors that can enhance their skill level,” he said.
After the instructors provided the formal training, Santa was outfitted with protective eyewear and headphones to protect him on the firing range.
Santa then went through various exercises on how to shoot his weapon as he pivoted to the left, spun to the right, and hid behind a wall as one would see in the movies.
“The guy actually explained to me how to stand, balance your weight, how to shoot with the weapon, and he even explained the sights,” Santa said. “He made it easy. Once you have that little focus in your mind, it just triggered real smooth with no problems.”
Despite the intense training, Command Sgt. Major Harry Collins, the FEST-M command sergeant major, points out that the FEST-M may never need to pick up a weapon when overseas.
“It’s up to the theater commander whether you can carry it or not once we deploy,” he said.
But everything all depends on the situation Collins continued.
“We went to the training yesterday because you have to be familiarized with the weapons in case there becomes an emergency situation where you have to be able to use the weapon,” he said. “If a situation ever does arise, I’m very confident in the civilians’ skill level after seeing the training. Everybody will be able to pick up a weapon if they need to and be able to defend themselves or defend their battle buddy.”
After hours of formal instruction and shooting paper targets, the FEST-M had some fun with a few shooting competitions. They competed one-on-one to see who could knock down plates metal plates the fastest.
With seven plates to shoot, Santa needed only 10 rounds of ammunition to knock them all down.
“After you started doing the first one, you heard the clang,” he said. “In your mind it was one after another that went in my favor.”
Santa knows that he still needs more training to consider himself an expert marksman, but now feels comfortable if he ever needs to use a weapon.
“This is a unique opportunity,” he said. “The weapons training is just in case something happens. I hope in my mind and my heart that I don’t have to squeeze a trigger because if you do then you have to shoot it. You need to have the confidence to shoot somebody.
“We’re there [overseas] to provide a service, help build a country, but in my mind, I got to be sure to use that weapon. The moment you pull it, you can’t stop. Cause if you don’t, something’s going to happen to you or to someone on your team. Another part of my mind I have is the thought that I hope we don’t come to that situation.”
When asked how many other architects he knows that may be placed in the same situation as him, he gave a light-hearted response.
“Probably none,” he said.
This story is part two in a special report of the 579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M)’s Individual Terrorism Awareness Class training in Winchester, Va.
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.12.2010 07:11 |
| Story ID: | 59986 |
| Location: | WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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