721st SFS conducts Smoke Grenade training at CMAFS

  • Published
  • By Craig Denton
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, Colo. --  The 721st Security Forces Squadron conducted M18 Smoke Grenade training at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station on Aug 3.

The training enhanced wing-level exercises and provided a realistic hands-on training, said Master Sgt. Crisanto Quinto, 721st Security Forces Squadron, noncommissioned officer in charge, training section.

M18 Smoke Grenades are used as a ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling device, for targeting and landing zone marking, or as a screening device for unit maneuvering, said Quinto. The device contains a smoke mixture and a safety pin that must be removed. Once the munition is thrown, the spoon on the side detaches and initiates a delay element which activates the smoke.

"The initial training to use a smoke grenade is a one-time training and the 721st SFS training section is now certified to throw the M18," he said.

Conducting grenade training takes planning and preparation. The munitions are ordered days in advance and picked up on the day of training, Quinto said. In addition, the grenades must be picked up by two personnel and transported in the back of a government pick-up truck. Security forces personnel must notify several agencies prior to training to keep responders and communities informed about possible smoke accumulations.

The 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, explosive ordnance disposal flight is responsible for providing a safety brief before beginning the hands-on portion of the training. Participants learn about smoke grenade general safety, transportation, inspection, emergency procedures, and operation and use. During training, the grenades are thrown into a combustible free area and produce colored smoke, which can present a toxic hazard in high concentrations. EOD recommends using common sense and staying clear of smoke accumulations.

In addition to smoke grenade training, SFS Airmen receive Taser, expandable baton, combative and simunition training (dye-marking, non-lethal training similar to paintball).

 

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