First line of defense

Published March 17, 2009
By Senior Airman Brok McCarthy
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A full-sized sedan, when turned into a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), can carry as much as 1,000 pounds of explosives hidden away in the trunk, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A VBIED that size would create a blast wave which would send glass and metallic shards as far as 1,750 feet from the explosion's center.

In order to prevent VBIEDs and other items terrorists may use to injure the base or its personnel, every vehicle and individual must go through the base's search pit area to gain access to the installation.

"Our main job out here is to conduct searches of all vehicles and personnel and make sure they are all secure and authorized to enter the installation," said Senior Airman Spencer Wallace, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron search member, who is deployed from Vogelweigh Air Station, Germany. "Our job out here is pretty critical. If we didn't do our job searching vehicles and being vigilant and we let a bomb get on base, it could prevent the wing from completing its mission throughout the area of responsibility."

"We basically look for something that looks out of place when we search a vehicle," said Senior Airman James Wader, 379th ESFS search member, who is deployed from Altus Air Force Base, Okla. "If you are looking in an engine compartment and wires look out of place or there are a bunch of extra wires that don't look like they belong, that could tip us off."

"We are also looking for General Order 1-B restricted items like alcohol, pornography, drugs, knives, anything people shouldn't have in the AOR," he said. "But our primary mission is looking for explosives or any kind of detonators."

Military working dogs are also used to detect explosives in the vehicles. Military Working Dogs are trained to detect hidden substances in the vehicles without touching them When an MWD detects a substance they will signal to the handler with a pre-determined alert response.

Airman Wader said on his tour here, he has not encountered any attempts to bring on explosives or other objects intended to harm the base or its personnel.

In addition to vehicle searches, Airman Wallace, a Biloxi, Miss. native, said security forces search between 1,000 and 1,500 third country nationals every day before they come on base to work. He said the squadron has the ability to detect any explosives, metal and non-metal objects the TCNs may try to bring on base.

Airman Wader said when they do find something, it is usually an item which is considered contraband, so it is taken and the TCN is allowed to continue to their job.

"A TCN might try to bring a knife on to cut up the lunch that he brought with him, but if it's something they don't need to do their job, we don't allow them to bring it on with them," the Vilonia, Ark., native said. "Cell phones are another big one. They have to have certain paperwork to say they are authorized to have a cell phone. Otherwise, they have to leave them off base."

"Working out here puts a big weight on your shoulders," said Airman Wader. "If someone was going to bring something on, we are the ones who are going to have to deal with it. We have to make sure everything is spot on every single time."

"I love working with these guys, they are all high speed," said Tech. Sgt. Khamfong Inthavixay, 379th ESFS search leader, who is deployed from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. "But you have to have really good Airmen out here searching the vehicles because this is probably the most important base defense. If someone gets by us with some sort of explosive, they'll have access to personnel and resources, but that won't happen with these guys out here."