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380AEW Article

380th ESFS Airmen secure DAS flightline

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tania Reid
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command correspondent
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Securing a flightline is never easy. The long hours and continuous watch of the U.S. military aircraft takes a team effort.

The Airmen from the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron supporting the 2011 Dubai Airshow know this responsibility firsthand.

"We've been here since the initial set-up," said Senior Airman John Foreman. "Our main responsibility is patrolling the flightline and securing the U.S. aircraft."

The Airmen at this year's air show not only provide security of the airfield but work side-by-side with the Dubai police and United Arab Emirates air force security forces members at the event.

"While at the air show we have been the liaisons between the general public when dealing with our aircraft and the Emirati police," Foreman said.

While the security forces members are responsible for securing their area of the flightline, they and their Emirati counterparts are all working toward the same goal.

"They were located around where we work," said Foreman. "In case anything happened they would be our primary contact to assist us with any unauthorized personnel trying to enter our area."

Airman 1st Class Marcus Kenney, an entry controller deployed from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., provides daily security at the barricades between the aircraft and the show attendees.

"The entry point gives access to the static displays," he said. "We ensure that everything operates smoothly and that only personnel with specific badges are allowed in the area."

The Airmen have been working around the clock to provide security for all the Department of Defense aircraft at the show--the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, E2-C Hawkeye, F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-18 Hornet, MH-60R Seahawk, and V-22 Osprey.

Lt. Col. Wistaria Joseph, the 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group deputy commander and the support officer in charge for the Dubai Airshow, acknowledged the critical role the security forces Airmen play in support of the international event.

"The overall wing support has been the critical aspect toward execution of the U.S. military's role in this Dubai Airshow, particularly when it came to the force protection piece," Joseph said.
She added that the Airmen have been doing a great job at the air show and the professionalism they have exhibited throughout the show has put a positive light on the U.S. Air Force.