64 AEG vigilance supports regional security Published May 1, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Kelly White 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs SOUTHWEST ASIA -- With an aircraft taking off from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing flightline about every two minutes, nearly any Airman assigned to the wing need only look up to be reminded of the airpower their efforts bring to the fight on terrorism - all except for those assigned to one unit. The Airmen of the 64th Air Expeditionary Group, a geographically-separated 379 AEW unit of security forces, support Airman and civilians, have a mission and culture all their own at their non-disclosed Southwest Asia location. "Ours is truly a unique mission and experience," said Col. Michael Mounts, 64 AEG commander. "Our mission is defending this base and providing emergency response for the people who work and live here, so security forces are our focus. There's no flightline here, so the cops, who are primarily Air National Guardsmen, are our flightline," he explained. "There are also active-duty and Reserve Airmen here to support security forces, so we're a Total Force community, as well." Twenty-four/seven, the 64 AEG focus on perimeter protection is ensured by way of strategically posting troops on perimeter defense positions, patrols and quick response force teams. "The days are long and demanding," said Tech. Sgt. Pedro Kladis, 64 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron member. "Maintaining vigilance at all times during a 12-hour shift can be really tedious, but these troops understand what's at stake. They persevere and they do a great job." While ESFS troops are at their post for 12 hours a day, the time they spend at the armory and on guard mount leave them with fewer hours off-duty than on, and some without an opportunity to as much as take a break for meals. "Everyone from the gate writes their (meal) order on the sheet and 'chow runners' get their lunch to them," said Sergeant Kladis. "We even have a pulley system at our PDP that we use to hoist their lunch up to them." It's not just the 64 ESFS members supporting one another on base. Other Airmen are also there to support them, from civil engineering, to logistics, to computer network support. "The 64 (ESFS) is here to perform a security mission, and we're all here to support our cops," said Tech. Sgt. Jesse Reisinger, 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron Logistics Readiness Flight vehicle fleet manager. The flight maintains about 130 vehicles overall, but of those, there's one make that takes priority, hands down. "The HUMVEES are basically why we're here," Sergeant Reisinger said. "We've got to keep them all running and ready to go." Explosive ordnance disposal is another critical support component at the 64 AEG. "Primarily, we're force protection for this base," said Staff Sgt. Mason Messick, 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron EOD team leader. "We also provide K-9 explosive detection support, help out with augmentees doing vehicle search training...and support downtown at the embassy for VIP service, when called upon." When the EOD technicians aren't responding to a call, they spend their time training. "We're always training, so we don't get rusty. (Staff Sgt. Ryan Bobzin, 64 ESS EOD flight chief) looks up everything that's going on in-country - what the troops are responding to every single day - briefing us on those," Sergeant Messick said. "A lot of our job is figuring out if something is, in fact, a threat," he added. "We've also spent some time building IEDs for exercises. If you're able to actually build something and have it work, then you're able to understand it a lot more. Building these helps us have a better understanding so we can better defeat them." While the EOD technicians said they enjoy their jobs, the reality of what's on-the-line when they're called upon is ever-present. "We train quite often," said Sergeant Bobzin. "One of the last EOD guys to die was stationed at (a base like this) and got pushed forward, so we want to make sure we stay sharp in case that happens to us." Regardless of the demands placed on Airmen serving at the 64 AEG, their focus remains on the positive aspects of their deployment. "Sometimes it's good to get away from home," said Senior Airman Alex Velez, 64th ESFS member. "Back home, there's so much stress and problems that we don't have to deal with here. We have time to focus being here -- whether it's conditioning our bodies, studying or reflecting on life. "I've lost weight going to the gym, done (Airman Leadership School distance learning course) and spent time thinking about things back home," he added. "(From) the encouragement and support I've had here, I've become wiser. I've grown." One other aspect 64 AEG Airmen deem essential to their deployed experience is having and being a "wingman." Camaraderie is important here, said Senior Airman Derek Sizemore, 64th ESS Escort Flight. "In what I do, there are a lot of people from different AFSCs coming together to do one job. We deal daily with over 700 third-country nationals - a lot of people with different languages, cultures and circumstances. I've met people here I would have never met otherwise." At the Visitor Control Center, 64 ESFS member, Staff Sgt. Jamie James, who processes all pedestrian workers and visitors coming onto the base, agreed. "It's been hard being deployed, but we're a small base - well-contained - and we have a good relationship with the workers and visitors who come through, because they see a familiar face every day," Sergeant James said. "Being deployed here, we get to know each other very well and we can be a crutch for each other." Sergeant James, whose husband is also a security forces Airman, currently deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, said as the current rotation winds down, she's ready to get back home to her two daughters and resume her role as a "proud, full-time mom."