Air Force Follows Navy in Adopting New Army Sidearm
Military.com |30 Mar 2018 |By Matthew Cox
Compact XM18 MHS (U.S. Army Photo)
The U.S. Air Force confirmed Thursday that it will field 130,000 of the Army's Modular Handgun System to replace its existing inventory of 9mm M9 pistols.
"We've started the procurement process and plan to buy approximately 130,000 weapons," Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews told Military.com in an email.
"As a joint partner in this endeavor, we determined the [X]M18 MHS, the compact version, will best meet the Air Force mission needs, and selected it as the standard handgun for all Air Force users," she wrote.
The Army awarded Sig Sauer an MHS contract worth up to $580 million in January 2017. The 10-year MHS agreement calls for Sig Sauer to supply the service with full-size XM17 and compact XM18 versions of its 9mm pistol.
The Air Force's decision follows similar moves by the Navy and Marine Corps to select MHS.
The Navy plans to field 60,000 XM18s, and the Corps budgeted money in its proposed fiscal 2019 budget to purchase 35,000 MHS pistols. Marine Corps Systems Command officials declined to comment on the budget submission.
The Marine Corps may also be leaning more toward the smaller XM18 model, according to a "sources sought" solicitation posted on FedBizOpps.gov on Feb. 13.
"The Program Manager Individual Combat and Equipment, Marine Corps Systems Command, is seeking industry input that identifies potential sources for holster sleeve for the Modular Handgun System (P320 Sig Sauer handgun) Compact ([XM18]) version," the solicitation states.
Companies have a deadline of March 30 to submit concept proposals, the solicitation states.
The Air Force selected only the XM18 rather than both MHS models because "a single model handgun simplifies procurement, sustainment, and reduces support equipment cost while ensuring commonality with other services," McAndrews said.
The striker-fired MHS pistols can be outfitted with suppressors and accommodate standard and extended-capacity magazines. There is also an accessory rail for mounting accessories such as weapon lights.
The Coast Guard has also placed an order to purchase MHS, according to according to Tom Taylor, chief marketing officer for Sig Sauer.
Military.com has contacted the Coast Guard for comment but has not received a response yet.
This is not the first time the services have agreed to adopt a common pistol. The Army selected the M9 in 1985 to replace the .45 caliber 1911A1, and the M9 soon became the sidearm for entire U.S. military.
The Army intends to purchase 195,000 MHS pistols, mostly in the full-size XM17 version.
Sig Sauer beat out Glock Inc., FN America and Beretta, in the MHS competition, an effort the Army launched in late August 2015. It appears that Sig's victory may have formally ended Beretta's 30-year hold on the U.S. military's sidearm market.
-- Matthew Cox can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
2017 Nuclear Deterrence Operations, Nuclear & Missile Operations Awards Winners Announced
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published March 27, 2018
WASHINGTON (AFNS) Air Force officials recently named the winners of the 2017 Nuclear Deterrence Operations Award and the Nuclear & Missile Operations Award.
The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Airmen contributing to nuclear deterrence operations.
The Nuclear & Missile Operations Award honors officers who make the most significant contribution to the nuclear and missile operations career field.
“Congratulations on a job well done to the winners of the 2017 Nuclear Deterrence Operations Awards and the Nuclear & Missile Operations Awards. The service members and civilians charged with the mission of nuclear deterrence, nuclear strike, and nuclear surety hold a great responsibility in protecting our Nation. We’re recognizing the best of the best among that group. Their stellar performance correlates directly to the standards our Air Force expects," said Lt. Gen. Jack Weinstein, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Force.
These outstanding nuclear professionals were selected from a diverse field within the Air Force’s major commands, unified combatant commands and other agencies including the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Award winners are:
- Airman of the Year: Senior Airman Joshua Roberts, 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron, Air Force Global Strike Command
- Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Staff Sgt. Tyler Dalton, 377th Weapons System Security Squadron, AFGSC
- Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. Jeffrey Malone, 39th Security Forces Squadron, U.S. Air Forces in Europe
- Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Daniel Merkh, 509th Security Forces Squadron, AFGSC
- Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Claus Fasting, 701st Munitions Support Squadron, USAFE
- Category I Civilian of the Year: Mr. Jared Cragun, 581st Munitions Maintenance Squadron, Air Force Materiel Command
- Category II Civilian of the Year: Mr. Chad Smith, 377th Security Forces Group, AFGSC
- Category III Civilian of the Year: Mr. Keith Hedgepeth, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, AFMC
- Professional Team: Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, AFMC (Col. Heath Collins, Jim Webster, Karl Rogers, Maj. Todd Rotramel, Keith Lucas, Lt. Jorge Martinez, Lt. Robert Rodgers, Lt. Blake Branton, Phillip Ingraham, Garrett Veenendaal, Justin Hinman, Jason Henrie, Jamie Marsh, Chase Darlington, Jodi Messenger, Robert Watson, David Hamblin, Sean Reiter, Lt. Jerrod Mertz, Micki Mitchell, Tyler Hodson, Jared Anderson, Paul Stoker, Drake Mailes, Destry Grogan, Capt. Jake Bradosky, Lt. Col. Joe Hank, Kortnie Frye, Charles Alvey, Maj. Cheronda Spann, Lt. Jourdan Harris, Matt Woolley, Col. Don Hunt, Brian Zwerdlin, Capt. Chris Benson, Sharen Wirkus, Brooke McNally, Paul Catmull, Kyle Fox, Jay Jacobs, Steven Knight, Michael Hensley, John Corriea, John Stedge, Candice Gebhardt, David Turner, Mari Meguro, Maj. Marcus Wells, Lynn Betts, Godwin Shelley, Bruce Arnold, Darren Rabosky, Lt. Col. Chad Searle, Jeremy Bodin, Phil Jones, Roy Ramey, Mark Elkins, Kevin Zimmerschied, Bruce Dennison, Lt. Yazmin Garcia-Smith, Scott Wessell, Wesley Pound, Jaime Veglia, Nicholas Maughan, Stephen Huve, Logan Harris, Irvin Jacobs, Sandi Marino, Paul Chisholm, David Garrett, Alex Landon, Casey Sherman, Kurt Schmidt, Michael Davenport, Tyler Deamer, Christiansen Christian, Don Jacob, Lt. Christopher Hopkins, John Palmer, Jeffrey Nusser, Megan Wheeler, Cindy Aguillard, Yvonne Romero, Lauri Clark, Donald Sandberg, Kelsey Porto, Shannon Clugston, Micheal Bowles, Matthew Poll, Gavin Poston, Paul Chisholm, Howard Eugh, Matt Regan)
Nuclear & Missile Operations Award winners are:
- Operator: 1st Lt. James Kegyes, 12th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana
- Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt. Victoria Gaines, 341st Operations Support Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
- Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj. Jared Miller, 12th Missile Squadron, Malmstrom AFB, Montana
The Nuclear Operations Awards Program is administered and overseen by deputy chief of staff, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Force in accordance with AFI 36-2870, Nuclear Operations Awards Program.
TWO SENIOR SF LEADER APPOINTMENTS/CHANGES:
Mrs Heidi L. Scheppers
FROM: Chief of Staff, Defense Technology Integration Program Office, Clandestine Operations, Global Access and Mission Integration Directorate, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Columbia, MD
TO: Deputy Director, Security Forces, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Scheppers is a career Defender and fills the vacancy created when Mr David Beecroft retired.
BGen John T. Wilcox II, director, strategic plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to director, operations and communications, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
BG Wilcox moves into the billet formerly held by MG Fred Stoss who has taken command of 20th Air Force at F.E. Warren, AFB, WY.
AFSFA sends their congratulations to both Mrs Scheppers and BG Wilcox … well done Defenders, HOOAH!!
Air Force's Newest Security Forces Colonels!!!
Congratulations to the following individuals who have been selected for promotion to the rank of Colonel. Well done Defenders!!
BORDERS, MICHAEL J JR
NEIMAN, CHRISTOPHER M
REYES, FRANK N
SCHLUSSEL, DAMIAN
SPRINGER, ERIC J
WEYAND, DERRICK J
THE 2017 AF OUTSTANDING SECURITY FORCES (SF) INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS
1. I AM EXTREMELY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE 2017 SECURITY FORCES INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS. THESE AWARDS RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS INDIVIDUALS HAVE MADE TO THE US AIR FORCE.
2. AWARD WINNERS ARE LISTED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CATEGORIES:
A. COLONEL BILLY JACK CARTER AWARD: SMSGT JESSE T. FRANK, PACAF, 18 SFS, KADENA AB, JAPAN
B. A1C ELIZABETH JACOBSON AWARD FOR EXPEDITIONARY EXCELLENCE: SSGT CHARLES R. MARSH, AETC, 97 SFS, ALTUS AFB, OK
C. SSGT TODD 'TJ' LOBRAICO AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE: SMSGT DALE H. SNOWDON, NGB, 157 SFS, PEASE ANGB, NH
D. AIR RESERVE COMPONENT COMPANY GRADE OFFICER: CAPT MEGAN A. SYLVESTER, USAFE-UK, RAF MILDENHALL, UNITED KINGDOM
E. AIR RESERVE COMPONENT SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: MSGT EDWIN I. VENTURA, PACAF, HQ PACAF, JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI
F. AIR RESERVE COMPONENT NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: TSGT CHARLES B. MCFALL, AFSOC, 1 SOSFS, HURLBURT FIELD, FL
G. AIR RESERVE COMPONENT AIRMAN: SRA JORDAN M. EDWARDS, AFRC, 434 SFS, GRISSOM ARB, IN
H. AIR RESERVE COMPONENT CIVILIAN: MR. CHRISTOPHER B. STOTLER, AFRC, 911 SFS, PITTSBURG ARS, PA
I. COMPANY GRADE OFFICER: 1LT NATHAN G. SPRADLEY, AETC, 902 SFS, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH, TX
J. FLIGHT LEVEL SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: MSGT BRUCE J. RICK, PACAF, 35 SFS, MISAWA AB, JAPAN
K. FLIGHT LEVEL NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: TSGT ROBERT J. WILSON, ACC, 366 SFS, MOUNTAIN HOME, ID
L. FLIGHT LEVEL AIRMAN: SRA ZACHARY B. WESLEY, AFMC, 96 SFS, EGLIN AFB, FL
M. SUPPORT STAFF SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: SMSGT JARED D. MORAN, USAFE, 48 SFS, RAK LAKENHEATH, UNITED KINGDOM
N. SUPPORT STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: TSGT RONALD J. WEAVER, AMC, 921 CRS, TRAVIS AFB, CA
O. SUPPORT STAFF AIRMAN: SRA MARISA M. MARTINEZ, AFGSC, 90 MSFS, FRANCIS E. WARREN, WY
P. SUPPORT STAFF CIVILIAN: MR. CHRISTOPHER J. MCCRADY, USAFA, 10 SFS, USAF ACADEMY, CO
Q. FLIGHT LEVEL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE (SUPERVISOR): MR. MATTHEW GRANT Jr., PACAF, 36 SFS, ANDERSEN AFB, GUAM
R. FLIGHT LEVEL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE (NON-SUPERVISOR): MS. CARROL B. FONTENOT, AETC, 81 SFS, KEESLER AFB, MS
S. HIGHER HEADQUARTERS COMPANY GRADE OFFICER: CAPT CALVIN E. GLASS Jr., HQ ACC, JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA
T. HIGHER HEADQUARTERS NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER: MSGT KEVIN C. GRIMES, HQ USAFE, RAMSTEIN AB, GERMANY
U. HIGHER HEADQUARTERS CIVILIAN: MR. MARK E. DAVIS, AFMC, HQ AFIMSC, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO LACKLAND, TX
3. THESE AWARDS BRING MUCH DESERVED CREDIT TO THE INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS, THEIR UNITS, INSTALLATIONS AND THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS GO TO ALL THE NOMINEES AND THE WINNERS FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS.
4. IAW AFI 36-2805, MILITARY RECIPIENTS OF THESE AWARDS ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE AIR FORCE RECOGNITION RIBBON AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE AIR FORCE RECOGNITION LAPEL PIN.
DEFENSOR FORTIS!
//SIGNED/jbc/20 Dec 17//
JOHN B. COOPER
Lieutenant General, USAF
DCS/Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection
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