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Security Forces ‘defenders’ keep Manas Airmen safe

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ruth Holcomb
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC --  The 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is one of Manas Air Base's integral lines of defense against any and all threats it may face from both inside and outside the perimeter. It is their job to maintain the rule of law at the premier air mobility hub supporting operations in Afghanistan - and one they are fiercely proud of.

"We are always preparing for the job," said Master Sgt. Tracy McCall, 376th ESFS flight sergeant "It's always different, you're always dealing with different people, sometimes it is monotonous and mundane, but for the most part you never know what you're going to get yourself into."

"Our people are our number one asset," said Sergeant McCall. "Without all of their hard work we wouldn't be able to defend the base."

The "Liberando" defenders have come up with a number of ways to keep the base safe and secure from nearly every type of imaginable threat or mishap.

Manas relies on multiple surveillance systems to help improve security at the base. One system is the Tactical Alarm Sensor System (TASS), which lines the fences surrounding the perimeter of the base and sounds an alarm based upon various types of inputs. Another system is the Wide Area Surveillance Thermal Imager (WSTI), which is a series of monitors that continuously scan key locations and areas on base and can detect thermal heat signatures.

"If we have an alarm go off, we have cameras situated so that we have eyes on the situation, so we can know what we are going into before we get there," said Sergeant McCall.

A second form of security the base utilizes are patrols and guards on a 24-hour cycle. These Airmen and Military Working Dog units are tasked to patrol and watch the base perimeter and interior for anything suspicious or out of place.

"We have good security of the base and we have a lot of ground to cover," said Sergeant McCall. "But I feel that there is enough that if we have to respond we can get there in a timely manner, and the base can sleep well at night, or during the day, whatever the case may be."

Manas AB's current 'defenders' recently deployed from nearly a half dozen Air National Guard units across the United States and will remain here for six months.