Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    181st SFS defenders conduct multi-day ACE exercise throughout Indiana

    181st SFS defenders conduct civil unrest training

    Photo By Master Sgt. Roland Sturm | Airmen from the 181st Security Forces Squadron defend a position during a simulated...... read more read more

    MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, INDIANA, UNITED STATES

    06.13.2023

    Story by Master Sgt. Roland Sturm 

    181st Intelligence Wing

    Airmen from the 181st Security Forces Squadron conducted a multi-day exercise designed to refine emerging skills expected from security forces defenders during training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center and Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center from May 30 through June 4.

    The purpose of the training was agile combat employment and domestic response.

    ACE is the Air Force term to describe operating in modern, contested environments in forward-deployed environments.

    The ACE concept relies less on large, traditional overseas bases as hubs for projecting combat power and focuses more on launching, recovering and executing missions from dispersed, forward-operating locations.

    “Security forces [personnel have] traditionally been associated with law enforcement-type taskings, but that skillset is shifting with the evolving threat environment,” said Air Force Senior Airman Adrian Storm, a combat arms instructor assigned to the 181st SFS.

    In modern times, however, there is a need for new approaches.

    “Our traditional threats are changing,” said Storm. “We’re adjusting our mission and skill sets to meet the needs [of the military] in the modern threat environment.”

    Security forces airmen conducted door-to-door clearing, counter chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear all hazards management response (referred to as CAMR training), forward operating base assault and defense reconnaissance, force-on-force engagement, operations using night-vision optics, rotary wing aircraft infiltration and exfiltration, land navigation, ground-based defense, route clearance, urban environment training, riot control and active shooter scenarios.

    “We don't know the type of environment that we may be inserted into and working in,” said Storm. “We need to be able to understand how a joint tasking like that operates.”

    Indeed, the exercise allowed for training during various environments and scenarios – including domestic response support that is unique to the National Guard.

    “The Air National Guard has a civil disturbance responsibility,” said Air Force Maj. Joseph Williams, the commander of the 181st SFS. “The security forces squadron acts as an aid to civilian authorities in case there’s a civil disturbance that gets too big or out of hand.”

    The civil unrest training involved various scenarios where security forces members defended positions, detained identified aggravators, and operated in low-visibility and chemical-threat environments.

    “It’s a hectic environment,” said Storm. “In order for us to be prepared for that sort of chaos that could ensue, we have to be as realistic in that training as possible.”

    Still, the 181st SFS recognizes and responds to the need for such training to be ready to react at a moment’s notice.

    “Our domestic operations skill set will always be an important part of our mission,” said Storm. “It’s important for us to be prepared at all times.”

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.13.2023
    Date Posted: 06.13.2023 09:00
    Story ID: 446856
    Location: MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, INDIANA, US
    Hometown: INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, US
    Hometown: SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA, US
    Hometown: TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, US

    Web Views: 93
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN