Security Forces Airmen protect, secure airfield

Photo By Master Sgt. Patricia Bunting | Airmen 1st Class Carlos Bonilla, 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron security forces, looks at a U.S. military member's identification card while conducting entry control point identification checks, Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, April 19.  

IRAQ

04.25.2010

Story by Master Sgt. Patricia Bunting 

U.S. Air Forces Central, Baghdad Media Outreach Team

By Master Sgt. Dwayne Gordon

AL ASAD AIRBASE, Iraq – Expeditionary Security Forces Airmen have the ability to be called upon to perform an array of different missions in a combat environment.

Throughout Iraq, security forces members can be found assisting the Iraqi police in becoming a self-sustaining police force; performing patrols and securing military installations from enemy threats; and also securing and protecting multi-million dollar aircraft, its passengers and cargo.

Airmen from the 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron do just that. This EOSS is unique because it has a security forces flight which has the responsibility to secure the airfield 24/7.

"We are set-up a little different here," said Major Robert Waarvik, 532nd EOSS director of Operations. "Our organization consist of aerial port, weather and security forces personnel. It's structured more like a Contingency Response Group that is capable of being the senior airfield authority and securing the airfield."

The security forces flight consist of around 50 security forces personnel who took over the responsibility of securing the airfield from the U.S. Marine Corps in December 2009 to improve security from contingency procedures to a more strategic transload airfield.

"When we took over responsibility of securing the airfield, there were a few things that needed to be done to improve security" said Senior Airman Herman Goodman, 532nd EOSS/SFF physical security. "There wasn't a perimeter fence around the flightline and there weren't any supplies or equipment to build one."

The SFF personnel had to be proactive and coordinate with other base units to perform their mission.

"We basically had to visit all the storage facilities across the base and ask if we could have bundles of concertina wire, poles and other equipment that we could use to secure the airfield," said Senior Airman Renard Wright, 532nd EOSS/SFF physical security. "In a matter of a few months we have been able to accomplish a lot while starting with minimum supplies."

Al Asad is currently the only airfield in Iraq that has permission to use the commercial passenger program. This program is one reason why the installation was selected as a major Iraq drawdown hub because it allows a commercial airliner to fly direct flights from Iraq to the U.S.

Due to the Iraq drawdown of U.S. military personnel, the amount of equipment, supplies and money dedicated to the airfield will be limited. It also means the operations tempo on the airfield will begin to increase.

Creating a barrier around the airfield is not the only responsibility of the security forces flight.

"We conduct Random Antiterrorism Measures, identification checks and other security measures to ensure the airfield is secure,' said Airman 1st Class Matthew McCollum, 532nd EOSS/SFF member. "We also perform roaming patrols and facility checks looking for anything out of the ordinary."

This team of security forces personnel will have their hands full this summer as more than 30,000 U.S. Army soldiers are scheduled to transition through this airfield. This task does not worry them at all; they plan to perform their duties as they do every day.

"I'm proud of this security forces flight," said Tech Sgt. James Nephew, 532nd EOSS/SFF non-commissioned officer in charge of Plans and Programs. "They have proven that they can do more with less and with a good attitude."

• Date Taken: 04.25.2010
• Date Posted: 04.26.2010 06:27
• Story ID: 48699
• Location: IQ