Shooting ceremony reopens CATM range

Col. Chris Craige, 39th Air Base Wing commander, speaks to members of the 39th ABW and the Turkish air force 10th Tanker Base Command during the reopening ceremony for the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance range April 1, 2013, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The CATM range will be used jointly by U.S. and Turkish forces to help maintain readiness and qualifications. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr./ Released)

Shooting ceremony reopens CATM range

Col. Chris Craige, 39th Air Base Wing commander fires at a ribbon as Staff Sgt. Raymond Billups, 39th Security Forces Squadron combat arms instructor, watches during the reopening ceremony for the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance range April 1, 2013, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The renovated facility will be used to maintain readiness and qualifications of security forces and deploying service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr./Released)

Ribbon shooting ceremony reopens CATM range

Published April 2, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Jr.
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Members of the 39th Air Base Wing and Turkish air force 10th Tanker Base Command gathered for a ribbon shooting ceremony for the reopening of the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance range April 1, here.

The renovated range facility will be used by U.S. and Turkish forces to maintain readiness and prepare members for deployments and permenant changes of station.

"It is the only operational range in Turkey," said Kylie Nash, 39th Security Forces Squadron combat arms instructor. "It's important to have a firing range on or near an installation due to mission capabilities. Here we have a really big mission with joint fighters and a lot of defenders. They need to be qualified so they can do their mission."

Use of the facility will be split by Turkey and the United States with Turkey using it from the first to 15th of each month and the United States from the 16th to the end of the month.

"The fact we do that seamlessly, and the fact the profession of arms and the profession of CATM in this case is the same for both our services, is just a great point for us to celebrate," Craige said.

"This symbolizes what we do as far as partnership," said Col. Chris Craige, 39th Air Base Wing commander. "We use it half the time and 10th Tanker Base Command uses it for half the time.