RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom. (February 7, 2023): In this photo by Staff Sergeant Eugene Oliver, an Airman from the 423d Security Forces Squadron demonstrates a baton block during a non-lethal combat qualification course at RAF Alconbury. The course teaches defenders the skills and knowledge to properly detain a suspect using non-lethal combative methods.

The term 'less-lethal' designates a wide array of weapons, ranging from the traditional police baton to encompass pepper spray, tear gas, electric-shock weapons such as Tasers TM, rubber and plastic bullets, water cannon, and eve acoustic weapons.

The goal of non-lethal military weapons is to incapacitate targeted personnel or materiel immediately, while minimizing fatalities or permanent injury to personnel and property. Non-lethal weapons are used to counter personal attacks by disabling the attacker and is intended to have reversible effects on personnel.

The 423rd Air Base Group’s mission is to support operations at the Joint Intelligence Operations Center Europe Analytic that is responsible for over 50 countries in Europe, 33 Sub-Saharan and West African countries, and the Middle East.
The U.S. Air Force currently has over 35,000 military and civilians serving under the European Command.