ATSO Rodeo prepares Airmen for contingencies, inspections

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Staff Sgt. Mariana Babel, 100th Communications Squadron, practices M4 firing postures at the Ability To Survive and Operate rodeo Sept. 13, 2011, outside Building 680. The training involved participants wearing different stages of mission-oriented protective posture gear and going through various areas of training: self-aid and buddy care, post-attack reconnaissance, contamination control station, ATSO familiarization and weapons familiarization. During the weapons training, two members from the 100th Security Forces Squadron provided students the basic knowledge to operate weapon systems of the M4 rifle and M9 pistol. Babel uses one of the features of the M68 (close combat optic), which allows the shooter to use and engage targets with both eyes open, even when the cover is on. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)