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.

NCO ensures base security systems are a 'go'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Guarded by armed security forces Airmen, hostiles should think twice before attempting to penetrate a military installation. But base security goes beyond actual boots on the ground. Between surveillance cameras, motion detectors, infrared sensors and duress buttons, the chances of an aggressor getting onto an installation untouched are low.

It is up to Staff Sgt. Kelly Clevenger, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron tactical automated security system and investigations NCO in charge, and her team to make sure base security systems are fully functional while ensuring the safety of all base personnel and resources.

"TASS is critical here because we have the first line of detection to intrusions on the base," said the Sacramento, Calif. native deployed from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. "We have eyes on the base with our thermal imagers and closed circuit TVs located across the installation."

Over the last three months of her deployment, Sergeant Clevenger and her team have assisted civilian TASS personnel in installing cameras, motion sensors, fibers and other equipment around the base here.

"Any motion detected on C-Wire or through any motion sensors is transmitted to our TASS operator to assess the alarm with cameras or send patrols to conduct a visual assessment," said the five-year Air Force veteran. "We also conduct daily maintenance to ensure all cameras and sensors are operational so there is no break in base security."

As the NCOIC of her section, Sergeant Clevenger's workload includes some extra duties such as updating a sensor tracker log that entails daily maintenance and changes as well as other administrative duties such as equipment inventory, equipment requests and work orders.

Another important aspect of Sergeant Clevenger's job deals with the investigations side of the TASS.

"I deal with any criminal investigations that are brought to security forces which can include anything from thefts to General Order 1 violations," she said. "As an investigator, I am expected to conduct interviews and write reports for all investigations I conduct."

The 2004 John F. Kennedy Senior High School, Calif. graduate said she has really enjoyed her time downrange so far and the new experience of working with TASS.

"It is completely different from what I do at home station," she said. "I enjoy not being restricted to an office all day and having the opportunity to go outside and work with all the TASS equipment. I also enjoy working with our civilians who have so much knowledge on the system."

But as is the case with every job, the sergeant admitted that she does face her share of challenges.

"The unpredictability of our sensors and equipment is the most challenging part of working with TASS," she said. "At any given time, a camera can go out and we must be able to fix it in order to have the necessary visual assessment. We get calls in the middle of the night of cameras and sensor outages that we have to fix. Though this is a challenging part of the job, it keeps us busy and on our toes. We wouldn't have it any other way."

Now serving on her second deployment, her first a six-month stint to Ali Base, Iraq, in 2007, Sergeant Clevenger said she appreciates the experience and knowledge military members can only obtain from serving downrange, but by the same token really misses her family back home.

"I enjoy deploying and being able to work in a different environment and job with people from different bases, but I hate being away from my husband and daughter," she said. "My husband is also an Air Force member and understands deployments. My daughter is almost two years old, so she still does not understand the concept of deployments. I have another 15 plus years left in the Air Force, which means more deployments are on the horizon. I know one day I'll have to explain to her why mommy and daddy go away at times for work."
With less than three months to go in her deployment, Sergeant Clevenger continues to be optimistic, giving TASS her full focus while keeping in close contact with her loved ones back home.

"I know that I will reunite with them soon and cannot wait," she said. "Until then, I will continue to give the mission my 100 percent [attention]."