Niagara Opens Indoor Firing Range

Published Dec. 18, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Caya
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- The base hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the multi-million dollar indoor small arms firing range here, December 18.

This 28,000 square foot state-of-the-art joint use facility has 21 firing lanes and will support year-round firearms training for Airmen assigned to NFARS and other military units and law enforcement agencies in western New York.

"The addition of this range will increase the combat readiness of the military units stationed at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and in western New York," said Col. Allan Swartzmiller, 914th Airlift Wing commander. "In addition, the facility may provide law enforcement agencies a superior training environment to fulfill their firearms training requirements."

According to a member of the contractor who built this facility, Brian Aedler of R.B. Mac Construction, the firing range took 14 months to build at a cost of 6.5 million dollars. In addition to the numerous firing lanes, the facility boasts classrooms for training purposes, a weapons cleaning room as well as office space for U.S. Air Force combat arms instructors.

This range is something that has been needed for years, said Niagara Military Affairs Council Vice Chairman John Cooper. Prior to the completion of this range, members had to travel to an outdoor range at an offsite location.

This firing range is a great benefit for the base, said Aedler. In addition to having weapons training on the installation, the Airmen and other marksmen can control and simulate different environments, such as night firing, in this facility year-round.

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