Red men challenge force protection personnel

Published Oct. 19, 2011
By Master Sgt. Chance Babin
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A group of more than 40 force protection escorts received a tough and physical welcome at their deployed base while conducting tactical baton training, Oct. 15 at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

This training, also known as the "red man practical" due to the color of the protective suit worn by the attackers, consists of less-than lethal tactics used to gain compliance from a subject who is demonstrating the intent to cause serious bodily harm to oneself or others.

"The training went well," said Tech. Sgt. Anthony Harris. "The 47 FPEs were highly motivated, willing to learn and gave 100 percent during the red man practical. I feel confident the new FPEs will have no problems being able to utilize the ASP [Armament Systems and Procedures] baton if the situation arises."

For the trainees, the experience was an eye-opening moment geared to prepare them for a worst-case scenario.

"This is my first time doing this training," said Senior Airman Noah Valentino, a force protection Airman deployed from the 128th Air Control Squadron, Wisconsin Air National Guard. "I had fun; but, once they start coming at you and swinging it feels serious. It's very fatiguing."

Each person goes for three minutes -- 30 seconds of presenting targets, two minutes against one red man and the final 30 seconds against two red men.

"I think this training prepares you because you realize how important it is to be properly trained, to understand the gravity of a situation," Valentino, an Eau Claire, Wis., native said. "It prepares you mentally and brings you into the right mindset. Three minutes feels like a long time. It made me feel like I was out of shape."

The FPEs are not just thrown into the ring. Security forces personnel give them training prior to the moment of truth.

"Before they do this part of the training, they get practical training where we teach them how to hold the baton, how to strike and where to strike," said Senior Airman Troy Mace, an instructor for the training section of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, and a native of Florence, Ky. "We have them interact with each other, hit the pads. We teach them about the actual expandable baton they will use. We teach them how to use commands, that their voice can be a deterrent or even a weapon."

Ultimately, the training is a necessary part of working in force protection. The ASP training is used to simulate a possible scenario the FPEs might encounter on the job.

"A lot of the force protection people are guarding five to six TCNs (third country nationals). If something happens, they need to know what it's like to be in a fight," said Malik Williams, a contractor who serves as the unit training manager with the 380th ESFS. "We want them to know what it feels like to be stressed and to be scared, and that there's always more push.

"Some of these people, unless they wrestled in high school or something, they have never been in a fight. This training lets them know what it is like; it instills confidence and lets them know they can do it."