FAST members provide much needed security at remote airfields

Published Feb. 4, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Raymond Hoy
U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- An aircraft commander has plenty to worry about while flying in potentially hostile environments: What are the landing conditions like; is there security at the landing site; are my crew and the aircraft safe; do I have enough fuel; do I have any mechanical issues?

Thanks to U.S. Air Forces Central Command fly-away security teams, or FAST, at least a couple of those concerns can be put to rest.

The FAST program was established in 2007 and is designed to provide discreet, low-visibility, fly away security for additional protection when needed aboard aircraft transiting the AFCENT theater of operations where security is unknown.

"On these missions, we are security police, ambassadors and humanitarians all at the same time," said Master Sgt. Chad Eagle, fly away security manager for the 609th Air Operations Center in Southwest Asia. "Many of the areas the teams fly into may have never had Americans and U.S. military aircraft in them, so what the Airmen do or how they act can make or break an area's perception of the United States."

"My favorite part about what I do would probably be getting to see all the different places around Afghanistan," said Senior Airman Bambi White, a FAST member assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. "It's great to be able to experience the different cultures."

The FAST program has teams on standby throughout the AFCENT theater, ready to go when called upon. Members provide security for the plane and its crew, in addition to distinguished visitors who sometimes travel aboard the aircraft. Based on the mission tasked, there could be a two-, three- or four-person team involved, according to Eagle.

"On average, I have about 10 teams projected to perform missions each day," said Eagle, a Warrenton, Va., native deployed from the 86th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "They are important because without their presence, some missions wouldn't be able to succeed.

Once tasked for deployment as a FAST member, security forces Airmen attend specialized training to become FAST certified through the Regional Training Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

"I would say the Air Force prepares you pretty well for the mission," said White, a Pontoon Beach, Ill., native who's deployed from the 30th Security Forces Squadron at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. "It's definitely not something you can just be thrown into."

While constantly being on the move may seem stressful to some, White was up for the challenge.

"I didn't volunteer for it, but I was definitely open to being on this team," she said. "It's one of the missions that really makes you enjoy being a cop. You're always on the move; it's fun."