CATM renovations bring Airmen cleaner, safer learning environment Published Feb. 2, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Heather Stanton 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Major changes are taking place at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Combat Arms Training and Maintenance range and building to provide a cleaner, safer learning environment for Airmen. The three-part, $650,000 project began in December when the range closed for the installation of a target retrieval system, the renovation of the CATM instruction building, and construction of a new weapons maintenance and cleaning building. "The target retrieval system is a system that carries targets down range and back up to the shooter," said Master Sgt. Anthony Rice, 4th Security Forces Squadron CATM noncommissioned officer in charge. "Now shooters don't have to walk through all the lead particles on the range floor. It also saves approximately 30 minutes per class, getting Airmen back to their duty section sooner." The range reopened the first week of January, but the classroom portion of the course is taking place in the 916th Security Forces Squadron until April when the remaining renovations and construction are complete. The overall renovations of the existing CATM building include new chemical-resistant flooring, bigger restrooms and new office furniture because the old furniture was lead-covered and unsafe, Rice said. A brand new, 1,800 square foot weapons maintenance and cleaning facility will eliminate cross contamination of chemicals for Airmen. "The purpose (of this building) is so we don't clean the weapons, using hazardous materials, inside the same building where students and instructors eat and receive instruction," Rice said. This also helps reduce lead exposure for the Airmen by more than 75 percent. CATM instructors teach Airmen on 10 weapon systems such as the M-4, M-16, M-9 and M-240B. Members of the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing use the range along with Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets, South Eastern Protection gate guards and Outdoor Recreation's concealed carry class students. "Our new equipment will greatly improve shooters' abilities and decrease the health risks associated with firing," Rice said.