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Airman, Soldiers report to principal

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq --  Air Force and Army members have teamed up to provide a personal security detail to a principal here. 

This particular PSD's mission is to ensure the safety and security of their principal, an Air Force major general, at all costs throughout the local area. The detail is required to act swiftly to deter and protect the principal from any hostility while traveling through the area of responsibility. 

Tech. Sgt. Matthew Loiselle, PSD officer deployed from Langley Air Force base, Va., says he went to the Protective Service Operations course in Virginia to receive the training needed to perform this mission. 

"We went through a three-week course where we learned offensive and defensive driving tactics, and a combination of both shooting and moving tactics," the Tyngsboro, Mass., native said. 

This school was not necessary for his Army counterparts, as they received different training in preparation for the detail, including crew drills and first aid. Additionally, all the Soldiers on this detail are combat lifesaver qualified. 

According to platoon leader Army 1st Lt. Brian Forshee, he and his Soldiers, who are deployed from the 2nd Brigade Heavy Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan., were chosen by their battalion commander to execute missions as part of the PSD. 

"We were deemed the best maneuver team in our battalion," the St. Louis-born lieutenant said. "We haven't had any PSD specific training other than what Sergeant Loiselle gave us when we started this detail." 

Despite the difference in training, both Airman and Soldiers agree and focus on the detail's top priority. 

"It's absolutely key that the unit functions as a team, and that everyone knows what each other is thinking, their responsibilities and positioning, and how each other will react in certain situations," said Lieutenant Forshee. "Without that, this detail wouldn't move smoothly at all." 

Sergeant Loiselle concurs. 

"Teamwork is always key in the PSD world," he said. "When we move, we have to react as a team. The principal becomes first and foremost important. We must always support each other to be able to negate a threat. This is our only mission right now, secure the principal." 

According to Army Staff Sgt. Jason Bump, the PSD members receive refresher training during every given opportunity. 

"Crew drills are very important," the Columbus, Ohio, native said. "We keep doing the same thing over and over to gain muscle memory - our whole platoon is involved and plays an intricate part. We each have jobs and positions that are crucial to this mission. We have to perform to the best of our abilities. Not only do the drills prepare us for any given situation, but they also boost morale and really bring the team together." 

Without the joint effort of the PSD team, the principal's mission could falter. 

"We ensure the principal gets to all the places they need to get to -- securely and on time -- to fulfill the mission," Sergeant Loiselle said. "Without the team's presence, the mission would not happen or be fulfilled in any way, shape or form. The principal we protect is responsible for some very important missions -- working with many different people -- and some terrorist groups would like to see that mission fail. By us simply being there, we save lives every day, and we deter aggression in a hostile environment. 

"Each day in this area of operations becomes more and more stable," he added. "However, there are still acts of violence to where the coalition forces are targets. We just make it difficult for the terrorist to make that happen."