The one-of-a-kind Air National Guard unit assigned to Ft. Bliss, Tex., has an additional capability along with its heavy weapons role—sharpshooter. Among the Air Force’s some 270 sharpshooters, 12 of them reside within the Texas ANG’s 204th Security Forces Squadron. Their mission, said TSgt. Robert Johnson, the sharpshooter’s lead NCO and a former marine, is “to deliver long-range, precision rifle fire; enhanced observation and reporting in support of airbase defense and continuous airfield operations.” It is a skill, he added, for which “you always have to keep training.”
Now Enlisted Airmen Can Stay in Uniform Longer
Dec. 8, 2023
The Air Force is extending the amount of time Airmen can spend at most enlisted ranks by two years, as the service looks to combat sluggish recruiting and balance its force structure. The High Year of Tenure (HYT) program sets limits on how long service members can spend in each grade…