EC North Carolina News

Airmen from the 4th Security Forces Squadron have been enhancing their combat readiness through an annual training event focused on close quarter battle (CQB), range card, and sector sketches. The training took place throughout December 2024.

During this exercise, defenders worked in teams to apply the principles of CQB, which include surprise, speed, and violence of action. Staff Sgt. Larson, a 4th SFS instructor and evaluator, emphasized the importance of methodical movement: “What I expect to see from them is that they’re moving at a speed where they actually are doing all five of those things,” he said.

The range portion involved participants splitting into teams with newer Airmen leading efforts to annotate distances from their defensive fighting positions. Larson explained the significance: “The range card is something you are going to set up if you’re in a tower or a DFP,” he said.

This training opportunity allows security forces to refine law enforcement skills while meeting readiness and certification requirements. “I hope everyone can walk away from this training with a better understanding of CQB,” said Larson.

For some Airmen, such as Senior Airman Datorria McNeal, the training builds confidence for responding to real-world scenarios like active shooter events. “The training today was very informative,” McNeal noted.

Larson expressed satisfaction with his role as an instructor: “The most rewarding thing is getting those folks who come up to me afterwards saying ‘hey sergeant Larson can I come out here and train again one-on-one?’” he remarked.

These annual exercises ensure that 4th Fighter Wing defenders remain prepared for potential threats both on base and in deployed environments.