I can't attest to the authenticity of the photo or claim relating to this particular Airman, but I was the Security Forces Career Field Manager from 2000-2003 working on the General Staff out of the Pentagon. We were working the Close Precision Engangement/Designated Marksman issue when the Guard took control and started to send their folks to DM school. One of the first was a female Airman. Now, I'm not trying to start a women in the military discussion as I worked with women in the USAF for 27 years and fully endorse them being in service, but the training of a woman to be a "sniper" really created a problem as the issue of women in combat was still a pretty hot item. However, the training of the female Airman did force the issue and speed the eventual training of Airmen as Designated Marksmen and in Close Precision Engagement. The distinctions are critical as the USAF's ground doctrine did not require "snipers" nor would leadership support the concept. However, we did need a better squad and flight level response supporting fire and maneuver and the desire to engage targets at our perimeter, typically 300 meters. The concept of CPE was borne and it became an important part of doctrine as well as a heck of a morale booster. There were many other simultaneous programs designed to support the upgrade of our ground capabilities including the replacement of the M-60 with the M240B and the M16A2 with the M4 and a change in training that focused on skill sets needed for today's battelfield rather yesterdays. I better stop since I'm starting to ramble here...... :D