An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

532 ESFS Lions prepare to engage the battle space

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  When in a war zone, servicemembers must be ready for any possible enemy engagement, and readiness begins long before the gates at the base open and the patrol leaves.

The 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, "The Lions," have the responsibility of protecting the battle space with the roar of patrols around Joint Base Balad, Iraq. "We produce daily missions," said Capt. Michael Cohen, 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Force Protection Patrol officer in charge. "Since we started here, we are now creeping up on 900 successful missions."

However, before this prowling machine gets moving, hours of preparation must take place before the mission.

"Before going on a mission, preparation is crucial," said Tech. Sgt. John Holloman, 532nd ESFS Lion 1-3 squad leader. "We must insure that the vehicles and the Airmen are ready for whatever may come their way while out on patrol.

The Lions begin preparing hours before the mission starts.

"Planning and set up for the mission doesn't start until we receive the warning order," said Sergeant Holloman, a native of Mobile, Ala., deployed from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. "This order has all the mission information we need: what we will be doing, where we're going and what we need to bring."

After the warning order is turned into an operations order, the Airmen start prepping the vehicles for the mission.

"The vehicles need to be mechanically ready," said Sergeant Holloman. "They also need to be equipped with the right communications gear, weapons, safety and medical equipment, whatever the mission dictates we need."

When the vehicles are ready, they're driven to the weapons test-fire pit to ensure the heavy weapons are operating correctly, said Sergeant Holloman.

Prior to the mission, the Lions receive an intelligence brief and conduct battle and rock drills.

"These drills allow us to walk through any potential situation we may encounter so it won't take us by surprise," said Sergeant Holloman. "After the drills, we check individual equipment and leave for our mission."

It is important to be prepared for a mission, said Captain Cohen, a native of Duluth, Minn., deployed from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Once we leave the base, the team has to be able to solve any problem that comes their way. There's a saying, "You don't rise to the occasion, you fall to your lowest level of training," this is why the unit continually prepares and trains for any situation.

Now that the team is prepared, the gates maybe flung open, releasing the Lions to stalk their prey, keeping JBB safe from enemy attack.