U.S. Air Force Buying Special Drone-Snagging Shotgun Shells

SkyNet rounds are just one tool the Pentagon is looking at to counter the threat of small and readily available remote-control aircraft.

By Joseph TrevithickMarch 13, 2017, The Drive/The Warzone

U.S. Air Force security forces, as well as other military personnel and federal law enforcement agencies, may soon be getting a new tool to take down small commercial drones: shotgun shells with a net. The special cartridge is just one system the Pentagon has been looking at to manage the growing threat from small and readily available quad-and hex-copter-type unmanned aircraft.

On Jan. 31, 2017, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) announced plans to buy and evaluate 600 12 gauge SkyNet Mi-5 shells from AMTEC Less Lethal Systems (ALS). If the Air Force was happy with the tests’ results, the service would have the option of buying another 6,400 rounds.

According to a so-called ”justification and approval” document, the Pentagon’s Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC) put the urgent request together in response to the potential danger the certain small flying machines posed “vital national security assets,” a phrase that commonly refers to nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. Government censors removed mention of the specific command that asked for the gear and its area of responsibility.

Any federal agency has to submit one of these formal justifications for any contract it wishes to award “sole source” to a specific company without a long and drawn out competition. AFLCMC subsequently took over the actual purchase process.

The components of the SkyNet Mi-5 next to a complete round.

The current technology set of net projectiles is a very immature market,” the contract review explained. “The Skynet Net Gun system has been demonstrated at several locations in varying conditions during testing as part of the 2016 Air Force Research Laboratory Commander's Challenge.”

Groups from around the Air Force and private contractors demonstrated various prototype and production systems during this event, which had the Latin motto in caleo exitium para – roughly translating to “prepare for hot destruction.” A team from Lackland Air Force Base went so far as to use a small wheeled drone to try and snag a quadcopter on the ground with a large net.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/8291/u-s-air-force-buying-special-drone-snagging-shotgun-shells

“The most recent testing of the Skynet round occurred at Department of Energy Range 25 in Las Vegas, [New Mexico] in December 2016,” the justification report added.

Compared to other dedicated anti-drone weapons, the SkyNet Mi-5 is relatively simple. Each shell contains five metal segments, each connected by a high-strength cord to a central point. “The five tethered segments separate with centrifugal force and create a five foot wide ‘capture net’ to effectively trap the drone’s propellers causing it to fail,” ALS says on its website.

The Air Force said it will fire the projectiles from its standard Remington Model 870 shotguns. For the cartridge to work properly, Airmen will need to install “choke tube” with rifling to the gun’s muzzle to get SkyNet spinning. The contract options also included a possibility of purchasing 100 of these add-on devices.

An airman holds a Remington Model 870 shotgun.

The Pentagon only wants the weapons to be able to handle remote-controlled aircraft in what it describes as Categories 1 and 2. The first group covers unmanned airplanes weighing less than 20 pounds and able to fly no more than 1,200 feet high. The second level includes drones between 20 and 55 pounds with the ability to reach altitudes of up to 3,500 feet. Drones in both categories generally wouldn’t be able to fly faster than 300 miles per hour.

In addition to SkyNet, there has been steady work across the Pentagon on other equipment to battle the tiny unmanned aircraft, ranging from hand-held and vehicle-mounted jammers to fast-firing chain guns to lasers. Unfortunately, the Pentagon appears to be generally relying on ad hoc urgent contracts to purchase these systems in lieu of a more comprehensive, long-term approach.

The Air Force posted the actual justification document on FedBizOps, the federal government’s main contracting website, just one day after Air Force Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), told members of Congress that the Pentagon was still dragging its feet in setting up defenses against small unmanned aircraft broadly. “We’re going too slow,” Hyten declared on March 8, 2017.

“We have to get the right policies and authorities out there so our defenders know exactly what to do, and then we have to give them material solutions to allow them to react when they see a threat and identify that there is a threat so they do they right things,” the officer in charge of America’s nuclear deterrent continued. “It’s not enough for me to tell our guys to take a shotgun and shoot down something.”

A quadcopter fitting the Pentagon's definition of a Category 1 or 2 drone.

There may also be concerns that projectiles might miss a drone and come down somewhere else, causing inadvertent damage or even casualties. This would be an especially serious concern for troops at sites situated near civilian communities. He went on to explain that his forces needed clear legal guidelines to go along with any new equipment, something civil aviation authorities have also struggled to develop in the face of rapidly improving technology.

Quadcopters and other tiny pilotless aircraft pose real dangers to both first responders and military personnel at home and abroad right now. In June 2016, firefighting helicopters battling a wild blaze in California had to briefly halt operations after a private drone entered the airspace. Four months earlier, U.S. Navy security personnel had spotted a small drone over the Kitsap-Bangor base, which is home to a number of nuclear-armed Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines.

More recently, Islamic State modified commercial unmanned systems so they could drop small bombs on government troops and civilians in Iraq and Syria. In January 2017, the terrorists released a video of them using the improvised arrangement to attack an Iraqi M1 Abrams tank. Potentially even more worrisome, the brutal group has used the drones to spy on their opponents, help artillery units adjust their fire and even film slick propaganda videos of suicide attacks.

The remains a quadcopter the US Army destroyed with laser during a separate test.

In July 2016, the U.S. Army included an entire section on the threat and how to respond to it on the battlefield in a new training manual called Techniques for Combined Arms for Air Defense. Category 1 and 2 drones were among “the greatest challenges for Army forces,” the handbook explained. 

If they prove successful, the net-filled shells will likely only be one component of a suite of future weapons for the rapidly expanding mission of counter-small unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS). Since 2016, multiple pictures have appeared on social media of American troops actually fielding rifle-like jamming sets in Iraq and Syria. For a wider layer and more automative form of defense, the Air Force itself has reportedly bought limited numbers of an Israeli "Drone Guard" system and Liteye's Anti-UAV Defense System (AUDS). On a higher-end of the spectrum, directed energy weapons and other counter-rocket, artillery and missile (C-RAM) like systems theoretically could make up the upper layer of area drone defense, but the Pentagon still has not fielded such a capability in a substantial and focused manner.

The SkyNet, and other systems in development, would definitely give Hyten’s security teams and other troops a safer option to take out tiny drones. However, it looks like the Pentagon's overall strategy still have to catch up with the times.

Pre-Raven; Do You Have What It Takes?

By Senior Airman Jordyn Fetter,11th Wing Public Affairs, March 02, 2017

Staff Sgt. Brian Sollis, 811th Security Forces Squadron executive aircraft security NCO and instructor, gives directions during the Fly-Away Security Team training, nicknamed “Pre-Raven,” at Joint Base Andrews, Md., March 1, 2017. On this day, Pre-Raven trainees practiced verbal judo, which is an important skill for Ravens to use to deescalate a situation without the use of physical force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Valentina Lopez) (Photo by Senior Airman Jordyn Fetter)

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  
Battle cries pierce the air as 10 Army and Air Force security forces and military police members perform baton maneuvers in unison to the beat of their instructor’s orders.

These Airmen and Soldiers have taken the first step to becoming Fly-Away Security Team certified and possibly moving on to earning the title of “Phoenix Raven,” specially trained security forces personnel who provide aircraft security to Air Force assets across the globe at unsecure airfields.

From Feb. 13 to March 2, they’ve dedicated their time and efforts to completing the course, nicknamed “Pre-Raven.” The course is required of security forces or military police members aspiring to perform duties on fly-away missions at Joint Base Andrews.

“We want to know if they’re capable of completing the Raven mission under physical and mental pressure,” said Staff Sgt. Damien Hernandez, 811th Security Forces Squadron executive aircraft security member and instructor. “They have to be capable of doing it at the highest proficiency and be able to compete against those in our section.”

This quarterly-held course determines whether applicants are adept at the mission by preparing them for physical and mental tasks. Specific training curriculum includes coverage of teamwork, leadership, legal considerations, Redman qualification fights, baton maneuvers and verbal judo.

“We focus on the concept of teamwork, because something as simple as collapsible baton training has to be consistent so everyone is on the same page in regards to physical restraint,” Hernandez said. “If one person uses more force than necessary than the next person, there’s a huge lack in training and teamwork in there that shows that not everybody is on the same page.”

This overall theme of joint effort has slowly brought the team of trainees together and created a sense of unity between them.

“You could tell when we first got in there that everyone was apprehensive about working with one another, but we have since grown a brotherhood,” said Private First Class Micah Smith, 289th Police Company military police member and Fly-Away Security Team training participant. “The team bonding experience has just been amazing.”

Although the ultimate decision for who is accepted to the JBA program is made by the instructors here, some general prerequisites for attending the training include being either a security forces or military police member, receiving a 90 percent or above on the Air Force physical fitness test, have a record of good behavior, and receiving permission from their unit to participate.

Performance rating during Pre-Raven is scored based on a three-point system with the categories of participation, motivation and attitude.

For some participants, succeeding at this course is the start to living out one of their major career objectives.

“Becoming a Raven was my main drive coming out of technical school, so once I got here and made friends with some people in the Raven section, it really opened my eyes to how much I wanted to do this,” said Senior Airman William Schuld, 811th Security Forces Squadron area supervisor and Fly-Away Security Team training participant. “It’s not just a far-off goal anymore, it’s something I can do.”

The course provides development for military members in one of two ways: Army and Air Force participants can either earn a Fly-Away Security Team certification, which permits them to perform Raven-like duties at strictly JBA, whereas Air Force participants may advance to the official Raven school at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, earning authorization to perform the unique mission throughout the world.

There are a limited number of slots available for the official Raven course each quarter, so some participants aren’t able to move forward, but still walk away with the JBA certification.

These Airmen and Soldiers made the choice to face the challenge of becoming part of the Fly-Away Security Team or Raven brotherhood, taking a leap toward their goal.

“I’m most looking forward to when this journey finally comes full circle for me,” Schuld said. “When all the screaming, push-ups and flutter kicks are over with, I’ll be able to look back at everything and say, ‘That was worth it.’”

BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE
By BGen Andrea Tullos

When Chief Hartz and I visit our Defenders around the world, we ask our Defense Force Commanders and Chiefs, “what are your challenges?”   I expect to hear things like, we need more people, more training, and better vehicles. Sound familiar? I hear a few “Amens” out there. Interestingly, we came across an issue born out of the last few decades of overseas base closures, funding cuts, and policies that help facilitate family stability. We hear leaders concerned with how long their Airmen have been on station—NCOs with over a decade TOS, first term Airmen who spend their 6-year enlistment at one base, and even SNCOs with 15+ years on one base. The more we travelled, the more we learned it’s not an exception—at our CONUS bases, we find an unsettling lack of movement.

 First we asked “why.” For one, Air Force enlisted assignment policies allow an Airman to stay at a CONUS base indefinitely, absent a requirement for them to move elsewhere. Not only does this save precious dollars spent on “unnecessary” moves, it facilitates family stability by allowing spouses to pursue a career path in the local economy, allowing kids to stay in a stable learning environment, and it fosters other positive benefits such as continuity of medical care. Next, since the end of the Cold War we have significantly reduced our overseas footprint, which gives CONUS-based Airmen fewer voluntary overseas assignment options that historically drove PCS movements. For our Defenders, we’ve eliminated over 1,000 OCONUS billets – Clark AB in the Philippines, Howard AB in Panama, Rhein-Main AB in Germany, to name a few—and billets aside, those bases represent diverse operating environments that can’t be replicated in the CONUS. More on that later. Moreover, Airmen overseas can volunteer for consecutive overseas tours (COT). With “over water” PCS moves the most costly, approving COTs is a good deal for the Air Force. All these factors combined bring us to today, where we have a relatively stagnant force.

Well, so what? Who cares if a Defender spends their career at one base?   I would argue the mission effectiveness of our squadrons is a direct reflection of the quality of our career NCOs, who are the backbone of our defense force. We do them a disservice if we only give them one learning environment and by default, deny them important leadership and development opportunities. We rely on the innovation of our Airmen, yet we are only showing them one right way to do it, while there are many right ways out there. Some bases don’t have flightlines, or missile fields, other Service or coalition partners operating on them. An Airman assigned to the nuclear enterprise out of technical training may experience 3 nuclear surety inspections (NSI) during their initial enlistment, but an Airman assigned outside that enterprise won’t experience any. An Airman assigned to a “deployed in place” MAJCOM won’t attend a Regional Training Center and won’t deploy – our revised training policies will end that practice, but we currently have pockets of Airmen with no RTC attendance and no deployments. So how can we say we are preparing our Defenders to lead other Airmen in the diverse operating environments that span our Air Force when we aren’t deliberately developing them to do so?

The answer is we are going to start right now. We are implementing what is called breadth of experience assignment policy across the SF enterprise. This means if you are assigned to the nuclear enterprise, you can PCS out at your four-year point. In light of the rigor of that operating environment and the NSI schedule, four years is sufficient. For Defenders outside the nuclear enterprise, at 6-years TOS you will be subject to move based upon Air Force needs to facilitate moving Defenders out of the nuclear enterprise at their 4-year point. FE Warren AFB is our initial test base where we will implement the 4-year move process. Once we demonstrate success and learn from our initial round of moves, leadership at AF Global Strike Command and in the Pentagon will determine the timeline for moving the remainder of the nuclear enterprise with 4-years TOS.

To effectively defend our air bases and project our nation’s airpower, Defenders must be versatile. This means developing Defenders who have seen and experienced many paths to success, who are confident in their ability to shoot, move, and communicate in various operating environments, across a full spectrum of threats, while employing diverse skill sets. We want every Defender who achieves the rank of SNCO to have served in the nuclear enterprise, to deploy, and to serve overseas. We want all our Defenders to experience the goodness of our Regional Training Centers. We owe this to our Defenders and to our Air Force. So if you have been on station for more than 6 years, I encourage you to take control of your PCS destiny—update your dream sheet, talk to your SFM about what you want to do next and where you want to do it, talk to your family, and consider volunteering to move. You are the single most important ingredient in making our squadrons better, so help us stir the pot a bit by sharing your talents with your teammates at another base. Defensor Fortis!

Get Ready for the 2017 Chapter of the Year Competition

 
ATTENTION, CHAPTER CHAIRS: The deadline for submitting your Chapter of the Year package to the San Antonio headquarters is rapidly approaching. As you may have noticed, the AFSFA national meeting for 2017 has been moved up to late August, causing us to advance the submission date to July 14, 2017. Given the 2018 meeting is also being planned for late August, we expect the same timeline for next year as well. This will allow sufficient time for judging and award preparation in advance of the national meeting’s closing banquet. Two minor changes have been made to the submission questionnaire, so chapter chairs should reach out to their regional directors or visit the AFSFA website to obtain the latest document. All of the rules and processes remain in place from the 2016 competition. The vice president and regional directors will use the same point scoring system for judging. The board of directors will validate the scores in time for the awards ceremony at the banquet. We apologize in advance, but because of the compressed timeline, late submissions cannot be accepted. As with last year, we know from reading your minutes there are nearly 30 chapters doing great work that needs to be recognized – we Invite you to “take-on” the reigning champion, the Ark-La-Tex Chapter, and the 2016 runner-up, the Oklahoma City Heartland Chapter!

For more information review the policy letter at:  http://afsfaonline.com/index.php/members/member-documents/120-afsfa-chapter-recognition-policy-statement

AFSFA Publishes Security Forces History Book Volume III

Watch our YouTube  video -- https://youtu.be/fBVK_wjP2XY

Dear Air Police, Security Police, & Security Forces Members:

Due to the continued interest in the Air Force Security Forces history, the Air Force Security Forces Association and M.T.Publishing Company have joined forces to publish a third edition history book for 2017. This third edition will make a perfect companion book for the first two and will contain additional history about the Air Force Security Forces with a section for your stories while serving, as well as a chapter for your personal biography. If your biography was in one of the other editions and you would like it to be in this one, it will be necessary for you to resubmit it along with two photos if possible - one while in the service and a current photo. You may use the same photos that were in the previous editions.

Your experience stories are encouraged for this third edition. These can be provided to the publisher free by simply writing an interesting story while serving as a AP, SP, or SF member in 500 words or less. You may also provide photos to go along with your article. All stories will be reviewed for content, possibly edited and published based on pages available for this chapter.

The volume will be:

• 9˝ x 12˝ Hardbound

• Min. 112 pages

• $84.00†(Leather Edition)

• $52.50†(Standard Edition)

Submitting Your Biography for the Volume III History Book ... by mail or electronically

Write your personal biography in 150 words or less, indicating your name, rank, place and date of birth, when inducted into the service, years served, duties, action while in the service, when discharged, awards/medals received, interesting stories as they relate to the Air Force Security Forces, family data, and what you are doing today. If you stay within the 150-word limit, it will cost nothing to participate. The cost for each word over the 150 limit is 15 cents. If your biography is over the limit, please remit a check for the extra words. Send your biography with two photos, if possible – one when you were in the service and a current photo. Do not send photocopies in place of photos, because they cannot be reproduced for use in the book. Biographies may be submitted without photographs. Please type your bio (double-spaced) on plain white paper or submit electronically in a text document. Do not embed photos into the text. Please send those separately. To ensure that all material is returned after publication, write your name, address and phone number on the back of all material submitted. Please send biographies and photos to M.T. Publishing Company, Inc., P.O. Box6802, Evansville, IN 47719-6802.

You may also submit your biography on-line at www.mtpublishing.com   Any digital photos must be scanned at 300 dpi for submission. Low resolution photos cannot be used for the book. If you have questions about scanning or submitting digital files, please contact our publisher at orders@mtpublishing.com or by calling 1-888-263-4702. In submitting photos, please include a caption on the back of the photo with the date and an explanation of who or what is depicted.  A book order is not required to submit material for possible inclusion in the publication.

To submit your biography and photos on-line at www.mtpublishing.com just scroll to the bottom of the web site page and click on the “Submit A Biography” link. Enter your personal contact information and you can cut and paste your biography into the box and upload photos already on your computer. The first 150 words for your biography are free, every word after that is 15 cents. Once you are done hit the “Submit” button and you are done. You will need to use Chrome or Firefox as your browser. If you use Internet Explorer then simply send you bio and scanned photos by email to biography@mtpublishing.com

Submission and preorder deadline is 31 May 2017! See your latest AFSFA Security Forces Magazine for the order form.

“On Your Side, Fighting For You.”

To recognize the sacrifices veterans have made for our country, the law firm of David Resnick & Associates is awarding cash grants to men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

“On Your Side, Fighting For You.”

That’s the motto at David Resnick & Associates. It also applies to veterans. While our firm fights for injured victims in the courtroom and at the negotiating table, veterans were on our country’s side, fighting to protect all of us. We believe it’s time to honor deserving vets.

David Resnick & Associates is holding an essay competition that will determine the winners of $4,000 in total cash awards. Check out the details below to find out more about the competition and how to enter.

Nominate a veteran within our legion, or nominate yourself for a cash grant. David Resnick and Associates is now opening up applications for the first "Honoring Veterans For Their Service" cash grant competition. Applicants are required to submit a 600-word essay that discusses why the nominated veteran (a peer of yourself) is deserving of the award amount.

Three winners will take home cash prizes- first place will receive $2,500, second place $1,000 followed by a third place price of $500. All applications must be received by July 1st via email submission to the address listed on the contest page:   https://www.injuryclaimnyclaw.com/veterans-grant-contest/

445 SFS Airman Honors Fellow SF Airmen With Memorial

By Stacy Vaughn, 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A special memorial honoring the fallen men and women serving in security forces across the Air Force is proudly displayed in the 445th Security Forces Squadron. It was built by a 445th SFS Airmen as his away to pay tribute and to recognize the sacrifices of the 14 fallen heroes.

Staff Sgt. Dustin Ellison, 445th Security Forces Squadron SF craftsman, started working on the memorial March 2017. The display features the faces, names and dates the Airmen made the ultimate sacrifice. Words above the faces say, “Honoring those security forces members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in combat for their country.” Three lights above shine down, highlighting the images. In front of the display board is a pair of combat boots sitting with a rifle mounted in between and a security forces beret on top. Both an American and an Air Force flag sit on each side of the memorial.

“Many don’t understand, or realize the sacrifices that the men and women of the United States Air Force Security Forces actually make. It’s an understanding that few know and to have a memorial of the Defenders that have made that ultimate sacrifice, gives other members a visual remembrance of those sacrifices,” Ellison said.

Ellison said the memorial not only recognizes the current Defenders and the sacrifices that are made on a routine basis, but will also give new Defenders a better understanding of the sacrifices that other members of the security forces family have made.

One of the faces on the memorial is of Staff Sgt. Todd "TJ" Labraico, an Airman deployed to Afghanistan at the same time Ellison was serving there as a desk sergeant.

“I was in charge of dispatching the posts and patrols within my sector, as well as monitoring any suspicious activity. Although he was on a Reaper team and went outside the wire, I would hear the Reaper teams calling in over the radio for pre-authorizations to exit and enter through our vehicle entry control point. I didn’t personally know him, but when someone who you’re deployed with gives the ultimate sacrifice like TJ did, it feels as if you had a special brotherly bond just being in the same career field. It was a tough loss. Godspeed to his family for his sacrifice.”  

Ellison has served in the military 11 years. Both of his grandfathers served, and he felt it was in his blood to serve, especially to serve as a Defender. He remarked that he couldn’t see himself in any other career field other than security forces.

“I’m honored to be a Defender, and it’s an honor to have a memorial like the one that stands at the 445th Security Forces Squadron. It’s a sacred piece, and I'm proud to have put this memorial together. I can only hope that we won’t have to add more to this short list of heroes.”

National Police Week is May 14-20, 2017. It’s an opportunity to pay special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

BGen (ret) William R. Brooksher, 1930-2017

It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of BGen William R. (Bill) Brooksher. BGen Brooksher served as the Chief of Security Police and Commander of the Air Force Office of Security Police from 1978 to 1981. Prior to that he was Director of Security and Law Enforcement for Strategic Air Command. He began his service in 1950 as an enlisted clerk typist. He received his commission through Officer Candidate School in 1956. After a short time in the personnel career field he entered the missile force as a Titan ICBM crew commander and continued through the ranks to colonel. He commanded Minuteman missile wings at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, and Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, before his assignment as the SAC/CSP. He was the driver behind the writing of the Security Forces Prayer which can be found on the Air Force Security Forces Association web site with this link. https://www.afsfaonline.com/index.php/about-us/history/33-history/41-security-forces-prayer

Bill was the first president of the Air Force Security Police Association. A Founding and Life Member, he played a significant role in shaping the Association. He and his lovely wife, Avil, regularly attended our annual meetings. His leadership made a permanent mark on our Association. 

Bill continued throughout his life to be a supporter and encourager. His contributions to the career field and positive impact on all who knew him are his legacy.

Family only services are planned.

Silent Sentinels: Gate Guards, Our First Line of Defense

By A1C Breanna Carter, 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs, 4 May 2017

Airman 1st Class Ramon Cruz, 90th Security Forces Squadron installation entry controller, makes a phone call at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., May 1, 2017. The gate guards have frequent contact with the law enforcement desk, which provides them with information and help to further defend the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1Cl Breanna Carter)

Airman 1st Class Zarquis Butler, 90th Security Forces Squadron installation entry controller, salutes an officer at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., May 1, 2017. Defenders must render proper customs and courtesies while on shift. Defenders at the gate are the first line of defense for the installation. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Breanna Carter)

F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WY  

I wake up every morning, get ready and drive to the base for work. This is my every day routine and once I arrive to the base, I patiently wait in line to hand my ID to the gate guard. I then drive through without a second thought about the daily challenges these men and women have to overcome.

I recently had the opportunity to step back from my daily practices and see first-hand the routine of our defenders at the gate. It begins early in the morning, before the sun has begun to rise, at guard mount. This is pretty much a formation where defenders check their equipment, conduct roll call and receive their duty assignments. 

After that, they’re ready to relieve those at the gate and begin their long shift.

“We’re on duty for at least 12 hours and we’re posted here about three times a week,” said Airman 1st Class Zarquis Butler, 90th Security Forces Squadron installation entry controller.

There are many challenges our defenders face at the gate, and if you’ve been at F.E. Warren long enough, then you know one of those challenges is weather. After about 45 minutes of standing at the gate my fingers were already numb and the wind in my face was intolerable, but our defenders were unbothered and set on maintaining their bearing and staying alert.

“The weather can be tough to deal with and the traffic gets backed up past the highway, but we try to keep a positive attitude,” Butler said. “We’re the first line of defense to the base and the first face that people see before entering, so knowing the importance of what we do is good motivation.”

One thing I quickly noticed is that people can be very upset about the time it takes to get through the gate.

“Sometimes people get mad at us because they feel we’re taking too long, but I have to remain calm and continue to go through my procedures,” Butler said. “I check IDs against a list of people that aren’t allowed on base or shouldn’t be driving. There are also times where we have to perform random vehicle inspections. It’s important that I don’t get distracted by those that are upset because my priority is the safety of this installation and its personnel.”

Though there are challenges, there are also good days according to Airman 1st Class Ramon Cruz, 90th SFS installation entry controller. It doesn’t take much to make their day.

“I’m a people person so I love being out here,” Cruz said. “There have been times where the command chief came out to help us and it makes you feel good to know leadership cares. There’s also times where people will drop off donuts, bagels, pizza and sometimes hot chocolate when it’s cold outside,” Cruz said. “It feels good to know people think about us.”

So there you have it. When you get used to driving through the gate, it’s easy to see our defenders simply as a checkpoint before getting to your destination, but try to keep in mind how essential they are to the mission and defending this base day in and day out.

What it's Really Like to Be A Dog Handler in the US Military

By: Ashley Bunch, June 1, 2017, Military Times (Photo Credit: Marine Corps)

The public face of the military working dog community mostly comes from TV and movies, which feature these dogs with impeccable detection skills, incredible obedience and lightning speed.

But what it takes to get there isn’t always depicted on screen.

With “Megan Leavey,” the Hollywood version of a real-life story of a Marine Corps dog handler’s heroism, set to hit theaters June 9, Military Times reached out to several service members who work with military working dogs, or MWDs, to see what it’s like to be a handler in today’s military.

“It is very hard for handlers to watch movies about MWDs nowadays because we are always their biggest critics,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Monica Rodriguez, who’s been a K-9 handler for four years. “As far as the mental and physical connection between the handlers and dogs, they are spot on. It is one of the most touching qualities about a dog team.

“The reports on the dog’s capabilities to find bombs or drugs are fairly modified due to obvious reasons, but it paints a good picture.”

Staff Sgt. Monica Rodriguez poses with her military working dog, John.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Monica Rodriguez

From fitness to post-traumatic stress to retirement, here’s some more of that picture, courtesy of MWD handlers who are in, or recently out of, uniform.

50 pounds, plus pup

“Being physically fit in Security Forces K-9 is a crucial part of our job, especially in deployed locations,” said Rodriguez, who is stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and has performed 15 presidential protection missions. “We have to have the strength to get ourselves and our dogs out of harm’s way. We have to be able to lift our dogs as well as wear 50-plus pounds of gear.”  

The dogs can weigh up to 100 pounds. And like their handlers, they have to stay in shape.  

“We have to be informed of different ways the environment can affect our MWDs and be prepared to respond in any given situation to care for our MWD,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Sara Lyons, a seven-year dog handler who works out five or six days a week while serving at Italy’s Aviano Air Base. “My MWD also gets a good amount of exercise during work by walking patrols and training.”

The fitness standards don’t change for male and female handlers — and neither does the weight of a 100-pound dog. That’s fine by the female handlers who were interviewed.

“As a female, especially in the military, you want to be treated as an equal,” said Heather Cortez, a former senior airman who handled dogs for four years in uniform and now works for a civilian K-9 company. “I've always been determined and independent, that is how I got to where I was in my career. No one helped me along the way or did my training or tests for me. I definitely had support over the years from family and friends, but everything that I accomplished up to that point in life I did on my own. And as a female you want your male counterparts to recognize that as well and treat you how they treat the guys.”

Then-Senior Airman Heather Cortez poses with her military working dog, Blecky. Cortez served as a military working dog handler for four years and now handles working dogs for a private-sector company.

Know your dog  

Preparing for physical challenges may be critical to the job, but managing a dog’s stress level, and knowing its warning signs, can be just as important. The dogs are military assets and can’t be treated like children, the handlers said, but they can break down, and their will to work can suffer — or disappear altogether.

“These dogs are affected by stress and PTSD the same way we are,” Rodriguez said. “Some of us can't stand to hear the sound of an explosion or a back fire to a vehicle. It’s the same with them. Some dogs may shy away and some dogs may [be aggressive] toward the handler or someone else. You never know until you experience it with them.”

Prep work can involve exposing the dogs to “stressful scenarios to help them combat future situations that might cause stress,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. William Stone, a kennel master at Joint Base Andrews. The dogs are put on a cycle that encourages “as much rest as possible,” Stone said, and veterinarians are on call when needed.

Despite the support network and advanced training methods, the basic challenge faced by handlers isn’t much different, at least on the surface, from any dog owner who’s tried to train their pooch.

“In my opinion, the most difficult part of the training process is not knowing what the dog is actually thinking,” Rodriguez said. “A simple task can take so long for the dog to learn, and for us humans it can get frustrating.”

However, the learning curve isn’t always bent toward the dogs.

“All handlers get the same training, but some are new to K-9,” Cortez explained. “Some dogs might be pretty advanced, but if their handler is new, they have to do baby steps along with them. That can also frustrate the dog because he or she may just feel like you are in their way.”

Saying goodbye

One common, but usually misstated, theme of MWD stories comes at the dog’s retirement. Often there is talk of reunion with a handler, but there’s rarely a mention about other handlers who worked with the dog at some point, and how they all want to take the dog home with them.

“A lot of reports will say an MWD got reunited with his or her handler, but what some people don't know is that dog has most likely had multiple handlers,” Cortez said. “It's kind of sad because you wait until the dog is able to retire, but in the end you most likely won't get to take the dog home with you because someone else will get the opportunity first.”

Staff Sgt. Sara Lyons, a military working dog handler with 31st Security Forces Squadron, takes her dog JD through an obstacle course May 16 at Aviano Air Base, Italy.
Photo Credit: Airman 1st Class Ryan Brooks/Air Force

It’s a particularly difficult part of a job where building a relationship with your partner is essential to the mission.

“The K-9 career field is a bond with an MWD that you won't ever forget,” Lyons said. “There will be challenging days, but they are all worth it.”

The other dog handlers interviewed had a similar message. As Rodriguez put it, “Our job consists of blood, sweat and tears, but that's what makes us a special breed. We are very passionate about our jobs and our partners because they are not only working dogs, they are family. We literally trust them with our life.”

From the start of the shift, Cortez said, “when you get your dog from the kennel, you make his or her whole day.” It creates a relationship that goes beyond the job, she said — though some things are better left at the office.

“I have two cats at home that I adore very much,” she said.

Changes of Commands at the 377SFG at Kirtland AFB, NM

By Dave Coulie

377 SFG Commander, Colonel Dustin Sutton passes the unit guidon to incoming 377WSSS Commander Lt Col Joseph (Jay) Parsons at Change of Command ceremony on 8 June 2017 at Kirtland AFB, NM. Lt Col Jay Meier is outgoing commander. Guidon bearer is CMSGT Clayton Watson.

377 SFG Commander, Colonel Dustin Sutton passes the unit guidon to incoming 377 Security Support Squadron Commander Major David Bullock at Change of Command ceremony on 20 June 2017 at Kirtland AFB, NM. Major Eric Judd is outgoing commander. Guidon bearer is SMSGT Regina Bailey.

377 SFG Commander, Colonel Dustin Sutton, accepts the unit guidon from outgoing 377 Security Support Squadron Commander, Major Eric Judd, at Change of Command ceremony on 20 June 2017 at Kirtland AFB, NM. The following day at another Change of Command Major Judd became commander of the 377 SFS replacing outgoing commander Major Brenton Pickrell. Guidon bearer is SMSGT Regina Bailey. 

In the month of June 2017 the 377th SFG at Kirtland AFB held Change of Command ceremonies for all three of its component units. Members of the Pete Magwood (New Mexico) Chapter attended all three ceremonies and were recognized and honored by the SFG Commander and all departing commanders for the great partnership between the Units and the Chapter. The Chapter members thanked the outgoing commanders for their strong support and warmly welcomed the new commanders."

Schriever IMA Selected for Vital Command

By Airman William Tracy, 50th Space Wing Public Affairs, Published February 15, 2017 SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, CO

Lt. Col. Marcus Corbett, 50th Security Forces Squadron Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the commander, will soon command full time at one of the Air Force’s preeminent installations.

Corbett will be adopting a new role as 10th Security Forces Squadron commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy. While the IMA program provides the tools for reservists to operate in an active-duty environment, Corbett’s role differs from most IMA functions. He has been specially selected, among other candidates, to command an active-duty squadron, a rarity for the program.

Corbett was one of only five IMAs to make the candidate list.

“For an IMA to be selected, let alone meet the candidate list, is a big deal,” said Lt. Col. Michael Speck, 50 SFS commander, who knows firsthand the effectiveness of Corbett’s leadership through the IMA program, where he served in his place in times of absence. “Not all active-duty security forces officers are selected to command and it is a competitive process. For an IMA to be selected is an achievement, especially for a high profile unit such as the Academy.”

Corbett said he is excited to lead security personnel at the Academy, accepting the challenge of maintaining safety for an area which often hosts massive family gatherings, contingents of senior ranking officers and the president himself.

“It’s the most secure open base in the Air Force,” said Corbett. “There’s concerts, football games and athletic events. Then there’s events like Corona were generals across the Air Force show up, and graduation and parents weekend, where tens of thousands of people come into the base for a short period of time who don’t have identification or credentials. So, the challenge is conducting these happenings in an efficient process, while protecting the assets of the base.”

Corbett hopes to learn from the Airmen as well as share his expertise with them to help maintain the security of the base. 

“The beautiful thing is that I will have a squadron full of Airmen and personnel who have approached this challenge, and succeeded significantly at it,” said Corbett.

Speck is not surprised Corbett was selected to lead a major squadron such as the 10 SFS. 

“While I was TDY (Tour of Duty), he did a superb job leading the unit and communicating with the group and wing commander,” said Speck. “With the way the military has been heading in recent years, we rely more and more on our Reserve forces. Lieutenant Colonel Corbett is an outstanding officer and graduated commander in the Reserve force, and he will lead the 10 SFS extremely well paving the way for other active-duty command opportunities for reservists in the future.” 

The transition from Reserve to active duty can be difficult, but Corbett, who served on active duty for 11 years prior to going Reserve, is ready to embrace the lifestyle once again. 

“I am looking forward to it,” said Corbett. “The thing that I miss the most (about active duty) was being around Airmen on a daily basis. As a reservist, you have limited time at the unit.” 

The Academy is not an entirely new area for Corbett. A former graduate, it’s a return to familiar territory, although he said the base has changed. 

“They have some new structures and upgrades,” said Corbett. “They are constantly improving the infrastructure. Though there are still little things that bring back memories.” 

While his upcoming command approaches, Corbett and the Schriever Airmen he served with will not forget the memories and friendships made during his time here. 

“I’ve enjoyed Schriever, loved how it was quiet and secluded in a way,” said Corbett. “The 50th Security Forces Squadron is a great unit. From senior leadership all the way down to the Airmen. They have some phenomenal people, they are very professional and I thoroughly enjoyed my time here.” 

Speck is confident Corbett will continue to make a positive impact at the Academy.

“I’m sure he’ll find success, he will do a great job over there,” said Speck. “I’ve met many officers and enlisted, both active-duty and Reserve over the years, and I can definitely tell you that Lieutenant Colonel Corbett is a stellar officer.”

Airman of the Year Saves Lives, Prepares New Airmen for Service

By: Stephen Losey, AF Times, June 27, 2017 (Photo Credit: Andrew C. Patterson/Air Force)

Saving one person’s life usually is enough to establish someone as a hero.

Tech. Sgt. Megan Harper saved two lives in a single evening.

Harper is Air Force Times’ 2017 Airman of the Year due to her nearly 15 years of service excellence — from the battlefields of Iraq as a security forces airman, to her devotion to producing outstanding young airmen as a Military Training Instructor, to serving her community and saving lives at home.

Harper’s flight commander, Maj. Christopher Sweeney, said her passion and enthusiasm have made her respected by all as she trains and inspires her basic trainees. She leads from the front, with compassion, and doesn’t hesitate to do as much as she asks of her trainees.

“She’s an instructor who’s going to get out there and do it with you,” Sweeney said. “If it’s time to get down and do some push-ups, she’s going to get down and do them with you. She’s going to lead you through them.”

Harper, of Mesquite, Texas, is the child of two soldiers — her mother was in the medical field, and her father was a personnelist. She joined the Air Force in November 2002, after the Sept. 11 attacks because, she said, “It was my turn to serve

“It was something that I was moved to do, and … be a part of that initiative to take that fight downrange as opposed to having it here on American soil,” Harper said. “When I went to the recruiter, they asked me what I wanted to do, and I said, ‘I just want to kill terrorists.’ And they looked at me and said, ‘Oh, we have the job for you,’ and told me that security forces, if I wanted to deploy and have a weapon and get into the fight, that was going to be my best chance there.”

The recruiters steered Harper right, she said. She deployed five times — first to Kirkuk, Iraq, in fall 2003 for six months, and later to Balad, Iraq; Kuwait twice; and Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

'Constant action, constant alert'

In Kirkuk, Harper and her fellow airmen provided airbase defense, securing the perimeter and the entries to facilities. It was intense and dangerous, Harper said. Her base was mortared several times, and she was involved in firefights.

“Definitely grew me up,” Harper said. “It was almost constant action, and on constant alert. [But] I was actually more amped up to be part of the mission, as opposed to actually fearing anything.”

 Tech. Sgt. Megan Harper leads a small group discussion with airmen in basic military training. Photo Credit: Andrew C. Patterson/Air Force

In May 2004, Harper became the ninth woman in Air Force history to finish the elite security forces Phoenix Raven program, which specially trains airmen to provide security on-board aircraft while in flight — such as protecting the cockpit when foreign nationals are on board — and provide ground security when those airplanes land in dangerous areas. That training program was intensely physical, she said, teaching hand-to-hand combat and baton techniques, as well as undergoing air marshal training.

In 2014, Harper became an MTI and said it was the “absolute best decision I’ve ever made in my career.”

Today, she said, she doesn’t see the same “call to service” that there was right after 9/11. So when a young man or woman decides to take the oath and serve, she’s honored to help them become airmen.

“It’s incredibly important that we teach and we train and we mentor and inspire our replacements, because that’s who we’re handing the security of our nation over to in the future,” Harper said. “I’m incredibly humbled to be able to do that every day — to take someone from a civilian and teach them what it is to serve by that oath, and encompass and embody core values and commitment to service.”

Harper has trained 1,125 new airmen and graduated 22 flights since she became an MTI at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.

Recently, Sweeney said, Harper was named a master military training instructor and received the blue rope showing she is among the top 10 percent of MTIs in the Air Force.

She also oversees 14 other instructors as an interim instruction supervisor — the only one in her unit who is not a master sergeant, although earlier this year she was selected for E-7. That promotion will take her past 20 years of service, though she wants to stay in uniform as long as possible.

“They’re going to have to force me out,” Harper said.

Tech. Sgt. Megan Harper, a military training instructor, works with airmen on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Harper is the 2017 Airman of the Year. Photo Credit: Andrew C. Patterson/Air Force

Saving lives

 On May 9, 2016, Harper’s quick thinking and dedication saved the lives of two people in separate incidents.

 First, she performed the Heimlich maneuver on a trainee who began choking in the dining facility at Lackland. Another trainee motioned to the instructors' table that the choking trainee needed help, and Harper and another instructor responded. The trainee was holding his neck and turning blue, Harper said, so she told him to stand up and that she was going to perform the Heimlich maneuver. She dislodged the stuck food with three forceful thrusts, and the trainee was fine.

Less than three hours later, as she was leaving base, Harper saw a pedestrian who had been struck by a motor vehicle and stopped to help. The young woman’s breathing and heart rate were shallow, she said, so Harper sprung into action.

She went back to her car and grabbed gloves, dressing and a few bandages, and light-up discs to set up around the area and redirect traffic. She then started to perform first aid. She took off her ABU blouse, balled it up, and slid it under the victim’s head to keep her stable in case her spine or neck was injured.

The victim was bleeding profusely from the back of her head, which was also swelling severely, so Harper applied pressure to try to stop the bleeding. When Harper was silent, the victim would start to violently shake, so she kept talking to the victim to calm her down, reassure her that an ambulance was coming, and kept her from going into shock.

Harper followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited until about 2:30 in the morning in case they got in touch with the woman’s family, so she could tell them what happened. Harper knows the woman survived the night and was in critical condition, but because of privacy rules, she never found out what happened to her afterwards.

For her actions, Harper received the Air Force Achievement Medal — though Sweeney said that due to Harper’s humility, other airmen had to drag the details of the incidents out of her.

Harper is also heavily involved in volunteer activities that support veterans, such as the Bataan Death March memorial race and drives to collect hygiene supplies for female veterans in San Antonio and uniforms for junior ROTC cadets.

She also works with Team Rubicon, a veterans organization that responds to natural disasters such as tornadoes and flooding, and programs to help underprivileged youth like the Juvenile Justice Center, an alternative school for at-risk young people who have been kicked out of school.

Harper also heads up a mentorship program for young LGBT troops coming in to the military. And later in June, Harper is scheduled to brief a two-star general on implementing transgender policies at basic training.

“She is knowledgeable, she is approachable, credible, all of those professionalism pieces you look for, that’s her,” Sweeney said. “She’s just hungry for it. She just really wants to be the best airman she could be.”

Air Force Buys 100 Dronebuster Devices for Security Forces

By: Charlsy Panzino, June 15, 2017 (Photo Credit: Ng Han Guan/AP)

Instead of lugging around 30-pound counter-drone equipment, some security forces airmen will soon have a 5-pound device they can use to jam weaponized drones from the enemy.

The Air Force purchased 100 handheld Dronebuster devices, according to Clay Wild, vice president of marketing for Radio Hill Technologies, a Portland, Oregon-based technology startup that completed the contract for the Air Force. 

The company worked with the Air Force’s Installation Contracting Agency on the $2.5 million purchase.

The use of weaponized drones by the Islamic State has been a rising concern for the past year or two. ISIS drones are now attacking U.S. Special Operations forces around Raqqa, Syria, as U.S.-backed Syrian Defense Forces attempt to liberate the militants' self-proclaimed capital, according to a report Wednesday in The Washington Post. 

The Dronebuster can detect incoming radio frequency signals, which helps troops aim the device in low visibility. It can jam consumer and modified drone radios in several frequency bands, and the five custom antennae provide directional jamming over longer ranges, he said.

Wild said the company Radio Hill Technologieswill start delivering the Air Force systems in July, and then the company will train Air Force trainers on how to use the devices so they can train their airmen. 

“There’s a little bit of classroom time that is warranted for the airmen to understand the radio frequency spectrum, how jammers work, what radio frequencies the drones are flying on versus regular communications versus other systems,” he said. 

The classroom time and practice will only be a few hours, and the device itself is easy to use, Wild said.

Air Force Dronebuster

Radio Hill Technologies will start delivering 100 Dronebusters to the Air Force in July, and then train airmen on how to use the devices. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Radio Hill Technologies I 

The Dronebuster, which starts at $30,000, has a “technique generator” that uses less than 10 percent of the battery power for the jamming signal. This allows the device to be smaller than other similar devices.

Most jamming tools are mounted on a rifle, with the jamming antennae stuck on the end of the rifle butt, Wild said. The power is kept in a backpack, and the whole system weighs about 30-40 pounds.

That’s a pretty big unit for airmen or soldiers to carry,” he said. “If any security forces personnel were going to deploy anything, it had to be really small.”

Anything smaller than 5 pounds is tough, Wild said, because the antennae must be a certain size.

Air Force Times

'If you can't talk, you can't fight': Compass Call planes confuse ISIS

Security forces with Air Force Global Strike Command will use the devices at a “variety of sites,” according to an emailed response the Air Force sent to Air Force Times.

“Countering the threat that small, unmanned aircraft systems pose, whether in the hands of hostile forces or negligent actors, is vital to ensuring continued air superiority and protecting U.S. personnel,” the statement said. “The Air Force identified the Dronebusters as an immediately available, off-the-shelf option to aid the Air Force in countering the emerging hostile threat posed by small, unmanned aircraft systems.”

The Air Force said they couldn’t release further details because of security reasons.

The Army's Rapid Equipping Force bought 50 Dronebusters in April.

Charlsy Panzino covers the Guard and Reserve, training, technology, operations and features for Army Times and Air Force Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.

Reserve Defenders Keep Watch

By Maj. Jon Quinlan, 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs, Published April 24, 2017

Senior Airman Micheal Thomas, 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group security forces member, provides armed overwatch for contractors and air advisors performing maintenance on an Afghan Air Force MD-530 Light Attack Helicopter, April 16, 2017, at Kandahar Air Wing, Afghanistan. Thomas is deployed with other Citizen Airmen from the 507th Security Forces Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Katherine Spessa)

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- A group of Citizen Airmen from the 507th Security Forces Squadron here deployed March 31 to Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, to support the Afghan Air Force in their fight against insurgents in support of NATO’s Resolute Support mission.  

For the next six months, the team of Reserve defenders will be part of a Fly Away Security Team while in Afghanistan. Air Force FAST teams are made up of Security Forces Airmen who travel with aircraft to provide extra security around unsecured foreign airfields.

As a civilian, Senior Airman Casey Jardot of the 507th SFS is a research technician at an oil and gas company. This is his second deployment. He left the Marine Corps to join the Air Force Reserve, and said he is excited to go downrange to perform a vital security mission.  

“It’s important because we are there to show a presence of force and relieve active duty,” Jardot said. “We do so much as Reservists. We’ve got to go to the fight.”

Part of the fight is protecting personnel, multi-million dollar aircraft and sensitive equipment. When air missions depart, security forces travel with the aircraft to protect the mission and provide full security overwatch at forward operating bases.

The defenders also provide security for air advisors while training and advising Afghan security forces at Kandahar Air Base.

According to the 507th SFS unit deployment manager, Tech. Sgt. Kathelene Mercado, the Airmen trained for several months in preparation for this deployment. As Reservists with civilian careers and families, time management and prioritization of training are key elements in preparation for deployments.  

“This mission still exists. The threat is still real,” Mercado said. “We sent out a well-trained team to accomplish the mission.”

The commander of the 507th SFS, Maj. Richard Martin II, said farewell to both groups as they departed Oklahoma City, stating that he would go anywhere at any time with his deploying team.

“They sacrifice a great deal,” Martin said. “It never ceases to amaze me as long as I’ve been doing this job. I watch mothers and fathers hand over their infants and toddlers to go do something they feel very strongly about. That sacrifice they make for the greater good is tremendous.”

Fellow defenders from the 507th SFS joined the Airmen at the airport to show their support and to bid them farewell. When Jardot and his team boarded the plane, he said even though he felt sad to leave his family, he felt anxious to support the mission.

“My hopes are to execute my job to the best of my ability, deliver the commander’s intent, watch my brothers’ backs and come home safe,” he said.

2017 AFSFA National Meeting Update

If you have never attended an AFSFA National Meeting this summary article about our upcoming 2017 National Meeting will give you a flavor for what to expect in Washington D.C. late this August. Keep in mind, every meeting and location has unique and varied attractions and the banquet will often take on a regional flare highlighting those very differences.

First – registration packets went out 5 July to all current AFSFA members. Look from them in your mailbox any day now.

Second – you can already make your room reservations and have been able to since late May. Here are the dates, contact information and the link to the hotel reservation site:

31st National Meeting 24-27 Aug 2017

Westin Crystal City, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202

Reservations: (888) 627-8209 or

http://goo.gl/yIg0Iz

You MUST use group name: 2017AFSFA.

Room block is for dates August 23 - August 28 only. There are a LIMITED numbers of rooms available outside these dates (3 days before and after at the same rate). To book outside of these dates, please contact Ashley Foster at 703-769-3940. Room rates are: $129 per night for single occupancy and $139 for double occupancy which includes a full hot breakfast each morning.

General Meeting Summary:

Thursday:

- Morning golf tournament at Joint Base Andrews golf course.

- Morning three professional Security/Law Enforcement training sessions in the hotel for continuing education credits and free to all AFSFA members.

- Afternoon/Evening -- members will start picking up their registration packets in the hotel lobby at 1600 and the Meet and Greet Social will start at 1800.

Friday:

- Morning General Membership Meeting from 0800 to noonish.

- Noonish depart hotel by bus to Joint Base Andrews for lunch and to meet Defenders and receive unit briefings and witness SF demonstrations.

- Friday evening dinner on your own but there is an evening Washington DC monuments bus tour at 1930 hours.

Saturday:

- Morning General Membership Meeting from 0800 to noonish.

- Afternoon open but there is a US Capitol tour available.

- National Meeting Banquet social hour starts at 1800 with dinner at 1900.

Sunday:

- Morning Fallen Defender remembrance ceremony. This is the last official event.

Throughout most of the weekend the hospitality room in the hotel is open for all to relax in and enjoy. The AFSFA Country Store and most of the chapters will have lots of memorabilia for sale. 

Hope to see all of you there!

The DoD Warrior Games, Chicago, IL, 30 June – 8 July 2017
From DoD Warrior Games web site     http://www.dodwarriorgames.com/

The 2017 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games will be held June 30 – July 8 in Chicago, Ill. Approximately 265 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans representing teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), as well as the United Kingdom Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force will participate in the competition.

The Warrior Games exist to provide an opportunity for athletes to grow physically, mentally and spiritually from the sportsmanship and camaraderie gained by representing their respective service teams in a friendly and spirited competition. It is an opportunity for athletes to showcase their enduring warrior spirit in the presence of their families and a grateful nation.

Teams include active-duty service members and veterans with upper-body, lower-body, and spinal cord injuries; traumatic brain injuries; visual impairment; serious illnesses; and post-traumatic stress. They will go head-to-head in archery, cycling, sitting volleyball, shooting, swimming, wheelchair basketball, track and field, engaging in friendly competition and experiencing the healing power of sports.

2017 marks the first year the Warrior Games will be held entirely outside a military installation or a U.S. Olympic Committee facility. Bringing the Warrior Games to Chicago increases public exposure of the event and provides new opportunities to showcase the strength, resilience, and dedication of the participants. With downtown Chicago as the backdrop, the 2017 Games promise to be memorable for the wounded warrior athletes, enjoyable for their caregivers and family members, and inspirational and educational for spectators and other supporters.

The Warrior Games were established in 2010 as a way to enhance the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded warriors and to expose them to adaptive sports. Sponsored by the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo., the inaugural Warrior Games hosted approximately 200 wounded, ill and injured service members. During the following years, the Warrior Games expanded in size and scope.

Defenders on the USAF Team:

 
Jamie Biviano, Veteran/Senior Airman
MOS: Security Forces
Hometown: East Syracuse, NY
Events: Archery, Cycling, Field, Shooting, Swimming, Track
“Don’t think that this is the end. We tend to get comfortable in the roles that we made for ourselves, without thinking of the what ifs. None of what we are going through right now was ever planned, but that doesn’t mean we can’t thrive with the cards that were dealt.”

 
Matt Cable, Staff Sergeant
MOS: Security Forces
Hometown: Great Falls, MT
Events: Field, Track
“Seeing individuals who go through tragic events and find the strength to keep fighting and pushing through each and every day is what keeps me pushing and fighting each day.”

 
Vincent Cavazos, Staff Sergeant
MOS: Security Forces
Hometown: Fresno, CA
Events: Archery, Field, Swimming, Track
“Know that even though it may seem like no one understands you or what you are going through there are people in the program that can help you find whatever it is to help bring you happiness and peace in your heart again.”

 
Michael Christiansen, Technical Sergeant
MOS: Security Forces
Hometown: Layton, UT
Events: Archery, Shooting
“Only you hold yourself back. Find your own motivation/what drives you and press the gas pedal. When it gets tough and it hurts and you want to quit, give it 10% more.” 
 

 
Larry O’Neil, Jr., Technical Sergeant
MOS: Security Forces
Hometown: Miami, FL
Events: Field, Sitting Volleyball
"One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall apart."

 
Benjamin G. Seekell, Technical Sergeant
MOS: Security Forces
Hometown: Charlestown, RI
Events: Cycling, Field, Track, Wheelchair Basketball
“There are two choices for those who face adversity: Be defined by your adversity, or be defined by how you overcome it.”

 
Brian Williams, Master Sergeant
MOS: Security Forces
Hometown: Sierra Vista, AZ
Events: Cycling, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball
“Remember where you come from, when you have the opportunity to help and mentor do it. As soon as you feel as though you are too good to do those things, you have forgotten, and might be in the wrong venue; don’t forget.”

  
Terrance Williams, Technical Sergeant
MOS: Security Forces Defender
Hometown: Kankakee, IL
Events: Sitting Volleyball, Track, Wheelchair Basketball
“Try everything, don't quite. You might find that the sports you thought you could no longer do are there for you and only need you to adapt a little bit.”

SF Career Field Milestone

By CMSgt Tamala Hartz

This summer we are acknowledging a milestone for our career field. It has been 20 years since the former Law Enforcement, Security Specialist and Combat Arms Training and Maintenance career fields merged into what we now know as the Security Forces career field. This was a seismic shift in the way we performed our mission and deserves far more recognition than I can give it here. The magnitude of the merger has been felt every day for those 20 years. It is also interesting to note that every Defender who served during the merger in 1997 is either retired or eligible to retire. As such, this marks the beginning of the end of an era. I do not think it is important to bore you with the logistical and financial benefits of the merger. Rather, I would like to focus on the nuance, the familial mindset, and the long and short term benefits.

 In many ways we ceased to be cousins in 1997 and became brothers and sisters instead. We joined together and began a period of shared experiences, capabilities, and mission focus. Gone were the inter-AFSC rivalries, the AFSC-centric and sometimes parochial management approaches, the competition for resources, the different promotion opportunities and cut-offs, and ceilings on advancement for Combat Arms and MWD Handlers. We stopped being LE, Security, CATM or Handlers, and became DEFENDERS! Certainly we still had some Defenders who performed law enforcement or security centric duties, and we still have Combat Arms instructors and MWD Handlers today. But instead of over-specialized and stove piped capability sets that had to be borrowed from time-to-time, we began to be a shared collective with broadened capabilities and perspective. The common refrains of the past such as “I just want to be a cop” and “You are just a security troop” gave way to “I am not just anything”. We also formed specialized units called Contingency Response Groups which captured all our capabilities into a unit and that expertise has since spread to the rest of the career field.

I often wonder what would have happened to us during Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM had we not transitioned. How could a Law Enforcement Specialist with minimal combat skills training hope to survive in the asymmetric combat environment? How could we have folded a Combat Arms Instructor into a cohesive squad and send him or her outside the wire? How would our over-specialized approach have served our sister services in Iraq and Afghanistan when they needed us most? I believe we would have still accomplished the mission because that is who we are, but the cost would have been greater than it has been.

 In case you have not guessed, I am a fan of the merger. I think it was the right thing to do and it happened at precisely the right time. But this is not a Hollywood love story and I am not in the habit of wearing rose-colored glasses. The transition was painful, comfort levels were challenged in ways few of us could have imagined. Even now I field occasional questions about whether we should separate the career fields again. Interestingly enough, many of those questions come from Defenders who were not serving prior to 1997, some were not even born yet. No doubt they have been told by the Security Police what it used to be like, or have experienced some perceived limitation brought on by the merger. From my experience I can tell you we have temporarily misplaced some specialized skill-sets from time-to-time. I use the word “misplaced” instead of “lost” because no problem has arisen that cannot be solved by training our Defenders. It also took a few years to break the ceiling on promotions for our career Combat Arms and MWD Handlers. Some promotion board scores suffered despite more opportunities because of an understandable lack of breadth of experience. These issues and others are to be expected when you transition from narrower skill-sets to a more broadened approach to mission accomplishment. However, these challenges pale in comparison to the benefits.

Our leaders before the merger were first class to be sure. Security Police senior leaders, led foremost by Brig Gen (Ret) Richard Coleman had the foresight to see that we could be even better and increase our operational effectiveness. These leaders had a vision of how skilled, capable and talented we could become as a collective rather than specialists. I like to think we have all benefited from their leadership and foresight and that we have a shared legacy they can be proud of creating.

I have not even touched on how the merger has changed and enhanced the perception of Security Forces by senior Air Force leaders and the joint community, or how that enhancement has benefited us in the hallways here in the Pentagon, at the bases we defend and in the combat zones across the globe. It is sufficient to say it has made a big difference in our favor.

I will close by reminding our Commanders and Chiefs that we have an opportunity this summer to come together to continue the evolutionary and revolutionary process begun in 1947 and redirected in 1997. Brig Gen Tullos will host a Worldwide Security Forces Conference at Andrews AFB in August. This will be the first Worldwide Conference since 2009 and will be an excellent chance to set the course for another 20 years or more as Defenders. I look forward to seeing you all there.

CMSgt Tammy Hartz

P.S. By the way, in case you were wondering, I was a Security troop.

Researcher, Defenders Bring New Counter-UAS Program to BAF

By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published July 14, 2017

Defenders from the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and a researcher from the Air Force Research Lab teamed up to bring a new program to Bagram Airfield. To counter the challenges that unmanned aircraft systems pose on the battlefield, the team is training to pilot and use the drones, so enemy tactics can be replicated and used to train coalition forces on how to react to them. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Gonsier)

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- As the use of unmanned aircraft systems rises across the world, researchers from around the Department of Defense are testing new ways to counter the new threats they could present.

The 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron teamed up with a researcher from the Air Force Research Lab to teach Airmen how to pilot drones and use them to train coalition forces on how to react to them on the battlefield.

“This is a brand new program for the wing, where we are able to test our counter-UAS systems coming into BAF, in addition to running base-wide exercises,” said 1st. Lieutenant Ryan Wilkerson, a researcher attached to the 455th ESFS.

Wilkerson, who is not a defender by trade, is deployed out of the AFRL, Rome Research Site, New York, and came to the best place to test the program--Bagram--where the challenge is present in real-world scenarios.

A few defenders assisted Wilkerson, serving as drone pilots and using their own down-time to practice piloting and learn tactics the enemy may use.

“It’s exciting to be able to pilot these aircraft for a program no one has ever been a part of before,” said Senior Airman Christopher Gallman, 455th ESFS joint defense operations center. “I can’t wait to see where it is going and to be able to help out the total-force.”

The “pilots” wear aviator sunglasses and have an aura of swagger around them, as they take great pride in being at the forefront of tactical development.

“It’s fun and enjoyable to do, and knowing how beneficial it is to not only the base, but all of the force, makes it worth doing,” Gallman said.

Training never ends, and while service members train to deploy, training still continues while deployed.

“This allows us to be better prepared,” Wilkerson said. “The best way to train is to actually put something in the air and see how people react. We train how we fight, so this is the most efficient way to counter this growing concern amongst coalition partners.”

Tactics used by the enemy are constantly evolving, which is why Airmen are constantly adapting to face news threats head-on, ready to engage anything that comes their way.

Air Force’s Surprise JLTV Buy in FY18 Could Be Start of Larger Procurement Effort

By: Valerie Insinna, Defense News, 4 August 2017

A Humvee, left, and a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle stand on display for size comparison at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., on May 2, 2017. Senior leaders from U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command test drove the vehicle through one of Fort Eustis’ training areas to experience the new suspension and overall feel of the vehicle. (Staff Sgt. Teresa J. Cleveland/U.S. Air Force)

Service wants to replace 3,270-vehicle Humvee inventory

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has quietly inserted itself into the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program with a request of 140 units in fiscal 2018, but the service is poised to buy hundreds — and perhaps even thousands — more vehicles if it can find the funding in future years.

Although budget documents show no further procurement planned for FY19 through FY22, the Air Force does not intend to see its JLTV acquisition end in FY18. The service wants to replace its entire 3,270-unit Humvee inventory, although the details are fuzzy on how much of the fleet can be recapitalized and when, Air Force spokeswoman Laura McAndrews wrote in response to emailed questions from Defense News.

“We would like to eventually phase out the entire High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles fleet with the newer vehicles,” she said, using an alternative name for the Humvee. “We are still formalizing our fleet management strategy of when we will acquire all of our hoped-for new vehicles and to what units they will go and in what order.”

The JLTV program was spearheaded by the Army and Marine Corps, which plan to buy a whopping 49,099 and 5,500 vehicles, respectively. The selection of Oshkosh as the JLTV manufacturer in 2015 was made with much fanfare, as the contract is the services’ largest vehicle program in decades.

In contrast, the Air Force’s decision to enter the program played out almost entirely behind the scenes. This January, Defense News broke the story that service officials were interested in purchasing the JLTV for security personnel that defend its missile launch facilities — although McAndrews stated that the service began looking for alternatives to replace the Humvee in 2012.

Air Force representatives had even traveled to Marine Corps Base Quantico last December for demonstrations and briefings before posting a request for information on tactical vehicles later that month.

“We ascertained the JLTV was the best fit for us because we rely on the expertise of the Army and Marines when it comes to acquiring tactical vehicles,” McAndrews explained, adding that the service did not conduct any independent testing.

The Air Force then requested $52.5 million in FY18 to procure 140 JLTVs. Of that sum, it plans to buy 46 utility variants (a two-seat version with a wide bed like a pickup truck); 48 general-purpose variants, which are the standard four-seat version; and 46 heavy-gun carrier variants, which have space for a gunner.

Those vehicles will be operated by Air Force security forces, explosive ordnance disposal teams, pararescue and personnel recovery units, tactical air control party teams, and special tactics forces, McAndrews stated.

The Air Force plans to begin fielding the JLTV in FY19, when full-rate production begins. Oshkosh spokeswoman Alexandra Hittle told Defense News that the company has the capability to meet the Air Force’s emerging demand, as well as that of the Army and Marine Corps.

“Additional buys will not affect USMC and Army deliveries,” she said. “Oshkosh stands ready to produce JLTVs for all services to ensure all of our troops receive the next-generation equipment they need to successfully complete their missions.”

Although the Air Force operates fewer Humvees than the Army and Marine Corps, its vehicles are experiencing similar problems in terms of performance and maintainability. The average age of the fleet is 10 years old, and users have commented on the Humvee’s lack of power and agility as more and more armor has been loaded onto the vehicles, McAndrews explained.

A few specific maintenance problems have also cropped up, particularly with vehicles operated in the hot temperatures of the Middle East.

“The biggest challenge with the HMMWV fleet is the injector pumps for vehicles in the Central Command area of responsibility, which require more frequent replacement due to the environment and operating them in high temperatures for long periods of time,” McAndrews stated. “A secondary issue is the braking system for up-armored vehicles. The added weight from the up-armor puts added strain on the brake pad, again necessitating more frequent maintenance.”