Tase me, bro! Airmen can opt to get zapped during training

AirForce Times — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 09:17:49 -0500

From: Air Force Times

Most of us try to go through life without being zapped by a Taser, but security forces airmen often volunteer to ride the lightning as part of their Taser training.

Unlike other training for less-than-lethal weapons, getting tased is a "100 percent voluntary," experience, said Lt. Col. Melissa Brown, chief of the security forces training policy branch.

"When you say 'voluntary' in the military, if you have very much experience with us, we tend to laugh at that word because 'voluntary' kind of turns into 'voluntold' or 'highly encouraged;' but we do explain to them that it is good for them to understand exactly what it's going to do and give them confidence that if they're in a situation where they are going to use it, that it is going to work very effectively for them — but we don't put any pressure beyond that for them."

Security forces first started carrying Tasers in 2005, according to the Air Force. The weapon fires two electrodes into the human body in order to administer a five-second jolt, initially of 50,000 volts.

"It is Air Force policy that whenever we arm a security forces member with — I will call it a lethal weapon … an M-16, an M-9, any type of a weapon — in order for them to draw that weapon, they must also carry a non-lethal means with them," Brown said. "The three non-lethal weapons that we authorize are the Taser, OC [pepper] spray and the baton."

Security forces airmen who are issued pepper spray have to be exposed to it during training so they will know what to do in a real-life situation if they are standing downwind from a pepper spray plume or if an attacker uses pepper spray on them, Brown said.

The reason that security forces need to know what it feels like to be pepper sprayed but do not have to get tased is that the two experiences are vastly different, Brown said.

"It is voluntary because unlike OC spray … you are not going to fight through the Taser," she said. "You are going to be incapacitated for five seconds. It doesn't matter who you are."

American Forces Network recently showed airmen with the 86th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, getting tased. Their faces convulsed and they let out a scream as they were felled by the Taser's unforgiving kiss.

It may not be a pleasant experience, but finding volunteers is not a problem, Brown said.

"Normally, most of our training classes involve young individuals, predominantly male; so all it takes is for one person to go, 'Ah, chicken!'" she said. "So typically, we have a lot people who are being exposed."

Staff Sgt. Ryan Lawrence learned that the Taser "tingles the body pretty good" during that five-second jolt.

"You lose being able to move," Lawrence said in a Jan. 15 interview with Air Force Times. "I couldn't speak either during it. You can completely hear; you can completely think; you just have no control over your motion."

Rather than seeing a video of someone being tased, Lawrence felt it was important to understand exactly what the Taser can do.

"I feel that to have the experience of having it being used on you, you know the capabilities of the weapon; you understand what it can do when we employ it; and I have more faith in the weapon itself if I ever have to use

This reporter was offered the opportunity to be tased but respectfully declined.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/01/19/airmen-voluteer-to-get-tased/21804181/

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 10:18 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 10:18:11 -0500

the ride isn't that bad. i took 3 rides while going through civilian police academy. you still have gross motor control. our task was to "stab" or "shot" our victim w/ red knife/gun. I was able to do it. Hurt like Hell, but still did it.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 11:22 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:22:02 -0500

Been there, done that...

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Jan 19 at 2015 12:15 PM

CPL Rick Stasny — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 12:15:22 -0500

I have been sprayed several times, and was given the opportunity to take the shot. I chose to pass for the simple reason that on the handle it says only to use in a life threatening emergency. Training is not life threatening. I know our Glock 21's work too and you
are not going to shoot me in the leg, just so I know what it's like. A friend of mine chose to participate, fell, struck his head and to this day has no sense of taste or smell. Just my take on this topic.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 19 at 2015 12:20 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 12:20:37 -0500

Airmen are so tough...

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 19 at 2015 12:24 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 12:24:17 -0500

My SFS Commander made it a requirement. If you carried a taser or OC you got hit with both before you could carry. Opting not to carry them was a career ender. That was in 2002 though.

Response by SSgt Julie C. made Jan 19 at 2015 1:50 PM

SSgt Julie C. — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 13:50:14 -0500

I don't feel this is necessary, airmen shouldn't be "highly encouraged" to do something that is supposed to be a last resort action. Each individual is different and there is no way predict the outcome of theses situations. Nor they should be looked down upon if they don't "volunteer", just another form of peer pressure.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 2:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:15:59 -0500

If presented the opportunity I would do it... But with the hand held one not the one were it shoots darts at you, screw that

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2015 2:56 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:56:23 -0500

Ive been tazed as part of combatives training. Definitly wont forget it.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jan 19 at 2015 8:06 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:06:33 -0500

Are you saying that part of the Air Forces Taser training DOESN'T require them to be tasered? They have a choice if get tasered? That is crazy...

Response by Wayne Montgomery made Jul 27 at 2016 2:34 AM

Wayne Montgomery — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 02:34:50 -0400

Just like going through the OC chamber/spray during BCT. I think it is good to experience what it can do for when you have to use it or it is used on you. 5 seconds is a long time to be incapacitated in a combative situation.

Response by MSgt John Darchangelo made Dec 15 at 2016 3:21 AM

MSgt John Darchangelo — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 03:21:10 -0500

Many law enforcement personnel get tased as part of their taser training. We also take a hit of teargas.