WC Missouri News

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Samantha Karnes, a member of the 509th Security Forces Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, is among the Air Force's highly trained sharpshooters. She regularly practices with her M110A1 Squad Designated Marksman Rifle to maintain her skills.

Karnes has achieved the status of Advanced Designated Marksman (ADM) and completed the Sniper Engagement Course, earning her Sniper Tab—a rare distinction within the Air Force Security Forces. "We are a little different from ADMs because we go onto further training and earn a Special Experience Identifier," said Karnes. "We use our training to provide an additional layer of security to convoys and events."

To qualify for this elite training, Security Forces Airmen must first become ADMs by earning an expert rating on the M4 carbine three times consecutively and scoring 90 percent or higher on their physical training tests. They must also outperform peers within the ADM community. "Snipers within the Air Force represent less than half of one percent of all Security Forces Airmen," noted Karnes. The sniper engagement course is held twice annually at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, with each class graduating about eight individuals.

Upon completing the course, graduates return to their units within Air Force Global Strike Command with enhanced skills. "The biggest thing we bring back from the sniper engagement course is knowledge," explained Karnes. Since returning in August, she has been sharing new techniques with other ADMs.

These qualified marksmen play a crucial role in base defense by providing an additional security layer for Whiteman AFB's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet. "Here at Whiteman, we use our ADMs and snipers to provide overwatch security," Karnes said.

Their expertise was also utilized during last year's Wings Over Whiteman Air Show for added event security. Moreover, when B-2 bombers deploy as part of a Bomber Task Force, these skilled airmen accompany them abroad. As Karnes stated, her specialized skills help protect Whiteman AFB and support its mission of global strike capabilities safely.