Photo By Master Sgt. Benjamin Bloker | Airman 1st Class Christian Mejia, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Fly...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan - After a hard landing on Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, a C-130 Hercules sits immobile at the edge of the runway. Two engines are missing, and the body has gashes and burns throughout. Although everyone made it safely off the aircraft, the damage is irreparable; however, components on the J-model yet to be removed are valuable assets in need of round-the-clock security.
A fly-away security team from the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron forward deployed from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, to FOB Shank to secure these assets.
"We got word in the morning and by that night, we were here," said Staff Sgt. Duron Arnold, 376th ESFS FAST team leader. "The Air Force wanted security forces because it's an Air Force asset on the ground."
Arnold is deployed from Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and hails from Montclair, N.J. This is his first deployment.
"We've been here 17 days and counting," he said with a laugh. "[Air Force] Cops deal with airbase defense. We're more accustomed to doing things like this; on a normal everyday basis, this is what we do."
He said he enjoys the FAST mission and visiting different bases around the AOR, but he misses his wife, two daughters and mother-in-law.
"Beautifull, my daughter, her birthday is next month and I'll miss it," Arnold said. "I have a great team out here, though; it's good to be out with good people."
One teammate of Arnold's is Airman 1st Class Christian Mejia. This is also his first deployment. Mejia is originally from Cypress, Calif., and is deployed from Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo.
"I'm loving this first deployment," Mejia said with a wide grin. "On the FAST mission I've been able to see Kandahar, Kabul, Tarin Kowt, Bagram, Camp Bastian and Manas."
The importance of the mission of FOB Shank doesn't go unnoticed to Mejia, and he prides himself on protecting vital AF assets.
"We provide 360 security and overwatch," he explained. "We make sure individuals aren't taking equipment or unauthorized photos, and we make sure people who are supposed to be taking equipment and moving the aircraft are protected.
"There are engines and instruments that can still be used, and we'll be here until those pieces have been removed," he added.
Mejia said the thing he misses most from home is his wife.
"Just doing anything with her, even watching TV - I miss that," he said. "I bought a calling card, though, so I get to talk to her every day."
Both Arnold and Mejia said they are looking forward to returning to the Transit Center, and providing fly-away security around the AOR again.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2013 05:51 |
| Story ID: | 113662 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, AF |
| Hometown: | CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 631 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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