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Force protection cell blocks out potential threats.

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 379th AEW Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  "So, what do you do for a living? Do you work on planes like bombers and fighter jets? Where do the planes fly?" asks an elderly couple stopping an Airman who is off base for lunch.
 
These questions may seem innocent, but the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing force protection cell says providing sensitive information regarding base operations puts all servicemembers here at risk. 

"Force protection is more than just security forces members guarding the gate," said Lt. Col. Andrew Hugg, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing chief of force protection. "Using information from squadrons throughout the wing, FP helps the installation commander set policies and comply with the guidelines set forth by the Defense Department to protect servicemembers here. 

"Security forces are a big part of the physical protection and security of the base installation, but other sections like the bioenvironmental flight work to makes sure our food is safe to eat and water is clean," Colonel Hugg said. "They constantly test the quality of the water in bottles, cadillacs and pipes in town that lead to the base, making sure the water is safe." 

With guidance from FP, the 379th Civil Engineer Squadron builds barriers that surround the base and ensure buildings are constructed to protection standards.
Gathering information regarding potential threats to the base and its members is another important aspect of FP. 

"We have to know what threats are out there, so the commander can set the FP condition level," Colonel Hugg said. "Based on the Intel, he can decide how much security to use, how much concrete he wants CE to use during construction of buildings, or if he wants to purchase blast-proof glass." 

The FP flight is always on the lookout for new threats in theater and tries to assess the capability and attempts of the local threat, according to Master Sgt. Scott Menges, a 379th AEW FP intelligence specialist deployed here. 

"We try to assess how the threat is going to impact us, not just immediately, but several steps down the road," Sergeant Menges said. "With the information provided, we try to come up with a course of action that we can use to mitigate the threat." 

Force protection is everyone's business, said Tech. Sgt. Alberto Aleman, a 379th AEW FP member deployed from Misawa Air Base, Japan. 

"We can be like small sensors to detect any kind of suspicious activities on base," he said. "If you see something out of the ordinary, it's your responsibility to report it to your chain of command and base defense operation center, so they can investigate it and see what source they are trying to collect or gather." 

Properly disposing of unserviceable uniforms and removing sensitive information from clothing can also keep the base secure. 

"Remember operations security, proper disposal of unserviceable uniforms and check laundry before dropping at the cleaners," Colonel Hugg said. "When you leave things in your laundry such as flight schedules, it can tell the enemy when a flight crew is set to leave and return to the area." 

The FP cell reminds servicemembers to be wary of people trying to elicit information.
"There are people everywhere who would try to elicit information from our Airmen," Colonel Hugg said. "If you get questions that seem suspicious, you should report them to your chain of command." 

"Don't get complacent," Colonel Hugg said. "Don't think just because we are not in Iraq, it's safe. "You're really not safe anywhere, even in the states. Make yourself a hard target, not a soft target."