Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate Trains USTRANSCOM, AMC, MSC, 375th AMW

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – “Taser, taser, taser” is not something you want to hear shouted from behind you. 

Air Force Maj. Jeff McKamey, Air Mobility Command Protection Division, learned this Sept. 12, during a non-lethal weapons demonstration and training session at the Illinois National Guard Training area in Sparta, Ill

McKamey, who volunteered to be tased, smiled nervously and gritted his teeth.   Army firefighters gripped his arms tightly for support. 

Next, after shouting the taser command, Barry Schulhofer, USTRANSCOM, Combatant Command Non-Lethal Weapons Liaison, unleashed the weapon’s 50,000 volts.

McKamey grimaced, groaned briefly, then went down like a sack of wet flour.  “Ooof,” is all he said.

Later that day, rubber bullets shaped like miniature bombs, paintballs and thousands of hard rubber balls filled the air as USTRANSCOM Force Protection Division hosted it’s second non-lethal familiarization fire or FAMFIRE event.

Representatives of the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., conducted familiarization sessions for planners from Air Mobility Command, Military Sealift Command, Military Surface Distribution and Deployment Command, and the 375th Air Mobility Wing. 

“The Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate conducts multiple non-lethal weapons familiarization events to educate leaders, planners and forces regarding non-lethal weapons capabilities and their utility,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Lance Stratton, deputy chief, USTRANSCOM Force Protection.

“Today we’re doing a non-lethal weapons familiarization fire event involving planners from the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command and Military Sealift Command to familiarize them with non-lethal weapons capabilities that are in the Department of Defense inventory,” Stratton added.

Shooters fired fin-stabilized rounds from 12-gauge shotguns, and non-lethal munitions from M203 40mm grenade launchers and the FN303 riot gun before the sessions ended. 

“The weapons and munitions demonstrated should prove valuable for USTRANSCOM and other commands in the future,” Stratton said.

"The DOD Non-Lethal Weapons Program provides to our operating forces reversible effects, escalation-of-force options that improve force protection while minimizing civilian casualties and collateral damage," said Maj. Peter B. Young, concepts officer, Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate. 

"From an operational or strategic perspective, the employment of non-lethals across the spectrum of conflict clearly demonstrates to the local populace, our allies, our partners, and international audiences the intent of U.S. forces to protect non-combatants," added Young.

The DOD Non-Lethal Weapons Program stimulates and coordinates non-lethal weapons requirements of the U.S. Armed Services and allocates resources to help meet these requirements. The Commandant of the Marine Corps serves as the DOD Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Agent.

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