General receives special pistol during ceremony

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Dick
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
VOGELWEH MILITARY COMPLEX, Germany --  Since the Revolutionary War, general officers of the U.S. armed services have carried side arms for personal defense.

Under the U.S. Air Force General Officer's 9mm Personal Defense Weapons Program, every general officer is entitled to a 9mm Beretta that remains with them until they either give the weapon back or keep it upon retirement. The program is part of the U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Integrated Product Team at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Keeping with the historic tradition, Kaiserslautern Military Community security forces members presented 86th Airlift Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon with his general officer's pistol at a ceremony at the Combat Arms Training Facility here Feb. 4.

Master Sgt. Michael Lund, 86th Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent, and Tech. Sgt. Collin Keller, 86th SFS security forces armory noncommissioned officer in charge, bestowed the general with his Beretta, including an upgrade from a leather holster and magazine holder to a local tactical holster.

"Wow, it looks fantastic, not quite as good as General Patton's though," General Dillon joked. "Hopefully, I can shoot as good as it looks."

The general went on to convey his appreciation for all the work that had been done to obtain the weapon for him. But his visit didn't stop there; he had to give it a "test drive."

Following the presentation, General Dillon was given a refresher course by Tech. Sgt. Richard Soloman and Staff Sgt. Nathan Drumm, 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron combat arms cadre members, and then headed out to the firing range to get familiar with his new weapon.

A friendly competition between the general and eight members from the 569th USFPS followed. They fired 50 rounds total and shot from several positions, including weak-hand, strong-hand firing, something General Dillon had never done.

But in the end, there could only be one winner, and that person was Staff Sgt. Dean Le, 569th USFPS combat arms cadre member.

"It was a fun time having the competition with the general, other combat arms instructors and some of our security forces members," he said. "I wasn't really trying to compete against him, primarily. But sometimes we get some good shooters out here, and they show me up."

Although General Dillon didn't score the highest, he could hold his head high after gaining expert marksmanship.

"The general shot well within the realm of an Office of Special Investigations agent or a cop," said Senior Master Sgt. Gloria Ornelas, 569th USFPS superintendent of logistics. "He would have easily qualified for either of those jobs."

After the competition was over, 569th USFPS Commander Maj. Christopher Bromen presented General Dillon with a red combat arms hat, designed specifically for him, and a 569th security forces brassard.