LASER EQUIPMENT EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
LASER CLASSIFICATIONS - Correct Answers -Lasers are classified for safety
purposes based on their potential for causing injury to eyes and skin.
o Class 1 - Class 3R (considered eye safe)
o Class 3B - Class 4 (hazardous to eyes and skin)
NOHD (Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance) - Correct Answers -The NOHD is the distance
from the source at which the intensity becomes lower than the Maximum Permissible
Exposure (M.P.E.) on the cornea and on the skin.
The laser beam can be considered dangerous if a person is closer to the source than
the NOHD
As the beam goes out, the beam divergence will increase, thus allowing less light to
enter the cornea at greater distances.
The hazard decreases the farther a person is from the laser, and the shorter the
exposure time.
o SOFLAM NOHD
- 20.5 km (unaided)
- 40 - 50 km (aided)
o HLM
- 5.9 km (unaided)
- 23 - 40 km (aided)
NOTE: "Unaided" refers to the fact that no optics are being used. If optics are being
used, the NOHD may increase dramatically.
Any personnel required to be down range during laser operations must wear proper
Laser Eye Protection.
NOTE: This does not include personnel operating the laser but refers to personnel
downrange of the aperture.
SOFLAM (Special Operations Forces Laser Acquisition Marker) - Correct Answers -11.3
lbs. (complete laser system + battery 22.8)
Powered by 1 x BA-5590 lithium
Wavelength: 1064 nanometers
, Range Mode: 200 to 19,995 meters
Designation Mode:
- 3 km (moving targets)
- 5 km (stationary targets)
10x Sighting Optics
Class 4 Laser (not eye safe)
SOFLAM CONTROLS - Correct Answers -Mode Switch
o OFF (turns the SOFLAM off)
o RANGE (rangefinder mode only)
o MARK (laser designating function w/ rangefinding)
o O/R (same as MARK...will allow the SOFLAM to override a HOT alert and continue to
operate)
PRF Code Pushbuttons
o First digit understood to be "1"
o 3 pushbuttons set the last 3 digits (numbers 0-9)
o PRF Code Range (1111-1788)
First / Last / Test
o FIRST (displays range of the first target detected)
o LAST (displays range of the last target detected)
o TEST (illuminates all the indicators in the eyepiece to test their operability)
Reticle Pushbutton
o Pull and turn to adjust the reticle illumination
o Push to turn Off
Eyepiece Diopter Adjustment
o Focuses the eyepiece
o Allows viewing without eyeglasses
Fire Button
o Outputs a single laser pulse if in RANGE mode or continuous pulses at the selected
PRF Code if in MARK mode.
o Remote Fire Cable (recommended)
Remote
o Connection for the Remote Fire Cable
o Use of the Remote Fire Cable is recommended to avoid moving the SOFLAM reticle
off of the intended target.
Aux Power
o Allows the operator to power the attached sights with the SOFLAM battery
Eyepiece Displays
o XMT: Red LED illuminates when marking or lasing
AND ANSWERS
LASER CLASSIFICATIONS - Correct Answers -Lasers are classified for safety
purposes based on their potential for causing injury to eyes and skin.
o Class 1 - Class 3R (considered eye safe)
o Class 3B - Class 4 (hazardous to eyes and skin)
NOHD (Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance) - Correct Answers -The NOHD is the distance
from the source at which the intensity becomes lower than the Maximum Permissible
Exposure (M.P.E.) on the cornea and on the skin.
The laser beam can be considered dangerous if a person is closer to the source than
the NOHD
As the beam goes out, the beam divergence will increase, thus allowing less light to
enter the cornea at greater distances.
The hazard decreases the farther a person is from the laser, and the shorter the
exposure time.
o SOFLAM NOHD
- 20.5 km (unaided)
- 40 - 50 km (aided)
o HLM
- 5.9 km (unaided)
- 23 - 40 km (aided)
NOTE: "Unaided" refers to the fact that no optics are being used. If optics are being
used, the NOHD may increase dramatically.
Any personnel required to be down range during laser operations must wear proper
Laser Eye Protection.
NOTE: This does not include personnel operating the laser but refers to personnel
downrange of the aperture.
SOFLAM (Special Operations Forces Laser Acquisition Marker) - Correct Answers -11.3
lbs. (complete laser system + battery 22.8)
Powered by 1 x BA-5590 lithium
Wavelength: 1064 nanometers
, Range Mode: 200 to 19,995 meters
Designation Mode:
- 3 km (moving targets)
- 5 km (stationary targets)
10x Sighting Optics
Class 4 Laser (not eye safe)
SOFLAM CONTROLS - Correct Answers -Mode Switch
o OFF (turns the SOFLAM off)
o RANGE (rangefinder mode only)
o MARK (laser designating function w/ rangefinding)
o O/R (same as MARK...will allow the SOFLAM to override a HOT alert and continue to
operate)
PRF Code Pushbuttons
o First digit understood to be "1"
o 3 pushbuttons set the last 3 digits (numbers 0-9)
o PRF Code Range (1111-1788)
First / Last / Test
o FIRST (displays range of the first target detected)
o LAST (displays range of the last target detected)
o TEST (illuminates all the indicators in the eyepiece to test their operability)
Reticle Pushbutton
o Pull and turn to adjust the reticle illumination
o Push to turn Off
Eyepiece Diopter Adjustment
o Focuses the eyepiece
o Allows viewing without eyeglasses
Fire Button
o Outputs a single laser pulse if in RANGE mode or continuous pulses at the selected
PRF Code if in MARK mode.
o Remote Fire Cable (recommended)
Remote
o Connection for the Remote Fire Cable
o Use of the Remote Fire Cable is recommended to avoid moving the SOFLAM reticle
off of the intended target.
Aux Power
o Allows the operator to power the attached sights with the SOFLAM battery
Eyepiece Displays
o XMT: Red LED illuminates when marking or lasing
