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Taking it up a notch, IqAF learns to protect leadership

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau
  • 321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
New Al Muthana Air Base, Iraq --  Prompted by a disturbing trend of Iraqi military leader assassinations, the Iraqi air force is receiving personal security operations training from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

According to the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction April 2011 quarterly report, between January 18th and April 15th there were more than 30 assassination attempts on Iraqi officials, more than 20 of them resulting in the official's death. In order to curb this trend, the IqAF sought out experts in the field of personal security and turned to OSI for advice.

Special Agent Masashi Yamazaki, OSI personal security advisor, led the PSO training, which was facilitated by the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's Iraqi trainers. Eight Iraqi students were chosen for the special course in addition to more than three months of recent training with the 447th ESFS.

"I'm hoping to share basic knowledge for PSO so they can come up with their own personal security program," said the Salt Lake City native.

Agent Yamazaki drew on his past training and personal experience with OSI, which is the executive office that provides protective services to Air Force senior leaders.

"We're trying to build up assets as opposed to just learning skills," said 1st Lt. Jacob Stephenson, 447th ESFS, deployed from the 171st Security Forces Squadron, Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

The assets taught not only drew on previous training they had with the 447th ESFS, but also explores how the United States Air Force protects its own leaders.

The training covered a wide range of topics such as an individual protecting a distinguished visitor, to a whole squad providing vehicular security for transportation.

"I want them to adapt it, change it, revise it and then make it fit to accommodate their needs," said Agent Yamazaki.

Since they graduated the course June 8, it is now up to the IqAF to develop its own security program and start protecting its leaders. That leaves a huge responsibility for the Iraqi security forces, one that 1st Lt. Jacob Stephenson believes they are more than capable of handling.

"This group that we've worked with for the last three months, they are ready to go," the Pittsburgh native said.

The Iraqi security forces members will provide security for Iraqi air force leadership, providing stability by protecting their lives and ideals.

"That stability may make the IqAF stronger and be able to self sustain rather than rely on other nations," said Agent Yamazaki.

The 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is a subordinate unit of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, which is the wing responsible for the Iraq Training Advisory Mission-Air. ITAM-Air trains, advises and assists the Iraqi air force to develop as a professional and credible regional airpower partner, with the ability to maintain internal security and defend against external threats no later than December 31.