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Security Forces: Keeping Bagram Airmen safe

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kevin Tomko
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  In a combat zone, threats may come from a multitude of sources. Since first deployed in 2002, the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron has been no stranger to dealing with these threats. 

"We have a lot of potential threats, but we have a well-trained team," said Chief Master Sgt. William Arehart, the security forces manager. "We have a mixture of Air National Guard, Reserves, and active duty, and you can't tell the difference between them. Some of the Guard members and reservists work in law enforcement as their full-time job back home, so they have good experience." 

Currently the training for security forces coming in to the area of responsibility consists of combat skills training (CST) that lasts anywhere from two weeks to one month. This training is done just prior to the deployment. The length of tour for security forces personnel is six months--two months longer than the tour of most Airmen in other squadrons. 

"Our Security Forces Airmen are truly patriots, and I admire them--not only do they train hard before they come here, but they consistently spend six months deployed--and then have to go back and do it again, including the train-up," said Brig. Gen. Chris Miller, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. 

Some of the duties of security forces here include flight line security, fly away security, and providing security for ordnance disposal for the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron. 

Airman First Class Alissa Smith, who works on flight line security at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., has worked the entry control point to the flight line since she arrived in September.
Her duties include making sure all vehicles and personnel have the correct clearance to enter the flight line. 

"I like being part of this work at Bagram, but I miss being at home," she said. "I've never been outside of the United States before, and this is a real eye opener for me." 

In addition to flight line security, Airman Smith has also been part of a fly away security team (FAST), keeping aircraft secure while they are away from Bagram.  "I'm qualified to do fly away security for missions on the C-130. I've done medical evacuation missions aboard the C-130 and flight deck denial," she said. Flight deck denial is a procedure for protecting the aircraft and crew while the aircraft is in flight. 

When it comes to securing missions with the C-17s, a much larger aircraft than the C-130, security forces may be required to have more training called Raven certification.
Senior Airman Kyle Battell, a security forces journeyman who is Raven certified, said the training school he attended was located at Fort Dix, N.J., and lasted 18 days. The training is rigorous and specialized. 

"Most of the missions here, however, are FAST missions," said Airman Battell. "You won't find many Raven missions here." 

"The difference between a FAST mission and a Raven mission is the FAST becomes part of the crew, and they blend in. The Raven security team is more of a show of force."
Airman Battell, who has been at Bagram Airfield for five months, said his experiences have been good, but he will be glad to go home. 

"We haven't had any engagements with combatants or any close calls," he said. "The experience has been exciting. The aircrews are efficient. I have a lot of confidence in our aircrews." 

Whatever challenge the service members of Bagram Airfield face in the Global War On Terror, security forces stands ready to help them face that challenge.