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USTRANSCOM hosts fourth non-lethal weapons FAMFIRE event

Air Force Capt. Desmond Foong stood in a grassy field, handing over the contents of his pockets, and his watch to two men who then grabbed his wrists.

Air Force Capt. Desmond Foong stood in a grassy field, handing over the contents of his pockets, and his watch to two men who then grabbed his wrists.


Seconds later, writhing in agony, he fell to the ground, face first.


But it’s probably not what you’re thinking. 


Foong was at the receiving end of a TASER demonstration that opened the fourth annual U.S. Transportation Command-hosted non-lethal weapons familiarization event (FAMFIRE) Sept. 10, at the Illinois National Guard Training area in Sparta, Illinois.


“USTRANSCOM hosted the fourth annual non-lethal weapons familiarization fire event to educate leadership, planners and forces regarding non-lethal weapons capabilities,” said Col. Glen Christensen, chief USTRANSCOM Protection Division.


According to Christensen, representatives of the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, conducted familiarization sessions for forty shooters from USTRANSCOM, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Air Mobility Command, Surface Distribution and Deployment Command, 375th Air Mobility Wing, Illinois Army National Guard, and Illinois State Police.


“This was the fourth year (of FAMFIRE), and it was as successful, if not more so, than ever before,” said Christensen.  “It not only allows us to test equipment, but also see exactly what options are out there, and demonstrate to subordinate units such as Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Air Mobility Command  and the 375th Air Mobility Wing exactly what kind of non-lethal options are out there.”


This year’s event contained fewer participants than the previous three events.


“We wanted to have a more focused effort this year,” Christensen said.  “We wanted to focus specifically on law enforcement capabilities, and we wanted to have those representatives that were tied specifically to that mission, so that they fully understood the opportunities and the capabilities inherent in the equipment we were using.”


During the demonstrations, participants fired non-lethal munitions from 12-gauge shotguns, M203 40mm grenade launchers and FN303R compressed air launchers.  Additionally, there was a TASER and modular crowd control munition demonstration, a less-than lethal claymore mine.   


The Department of Defense defines non-lethal weapons as weapons, devices and munitions that are explicitly designed and primarily employed to immediately suppress or disable targeted personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property in the target area or environment. 


“The reason less-than-lethal (weapons) are so incredibly important to the USTRANSCOM mission,” Christensen said, “is that  at the end of the day, given the evolving protection environment we are facing and the types of environments we operate in,  whether it’s aircraft, or whether its aboard ship, the ability to engage with less-than-lethal is critical.


“There may be times that even lethal (force) is authorized,” Christensen continued, “but given the equipment, given the type of things that are around where we’re operating, the ability to engage in less-than-lethal not only gives us the effect we want to achieve.  It also considers the operating environment, and minimizes the amount of damage we may cause to things such as critical aircraft capabilities, and ship capabilities.


“This year as in years past it was a tremendous success and we very much appreciate the support of the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, and the components that were able to participate in the demonstration,” Christensen added.


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The Department of Defense 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 Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Agent.

Located at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate serves as the Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapons Program Executive Agent's day-to-day management office.


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