100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
10/30/2014 - RAF MILDENHALL, ENGLAND -- Personnel from across the base scramble to secure buildings and put up barriers, as a handful of Airmen rush to the 100th Security Forces Squadron Base Defense Operation Center and exchange their traditional duties for one that requires them to wear full battle rattle and carry an M16 assault rifle.
For a few Airmen, this scenario became a reality through the security forces augmentee program. The recently revamped program helps the security forces low manning by allowing Airmen from the 100th Mission Support Group to volunteer or be selected for this special duty.
"Some of the augmentees volunteer because they joined the augmentee program at their last base and liked it, so they wanted to work with us here, " said Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Lewis, 100th SFS NCO in charge of training from Galeton, Pa.
In order to work with security forces as augmentees, Airmen have to complete training.
"We train them here [RAF Mildenhall] for two days and on the third day the augmentees go to the firing range at RAF Feltwell," said Lewis. "There's a lot of information we have to jam into a three-day period, but they are willing to learn."
Since January 2014, the 100th SFS has trained 68 augmentees who help increase security forces' morale and quality of life.
"If we didn't have the augmentee program, we would work 12-hour shifts," Lewis said. "With augmentees, we can operate an eight-hour shift, which really helps our Airmen by improving quality of life and boosting morale. For us, when we work a 12-hour shift, we're actually working 13- to 14-hours because we are on post for 12."
According to Lewis, once trained, the augmentees can go on patrols, conduct searches and perform entry-control duties.
"These augmentees are a great force multiplier when we go up a in force protection condition." said Lewis.
The base conducted an exercise Oct. 8, which required a few augmentees to be called to action. Once notified, the Airmen had to report to BDOC to retrieve equipment and get information about the current situation.
"I was working on one of the cop cars and then I got a call to come in," said Airman 1st Class David Rodriguez, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance apprentice from Brandon, Fla. "So I reported in, grabbed my gear and went to my post."
Lewis, along with his colleagues, were impressed with the response time.
"When the recall was initiated, it took 10 minutes and 45 seconds for the augmentees selected to get here," said Lewis. "They were really excited to work with us and they did a great job."
For Rodriguez it was a valuable learning experience.
"It was a lot more in-depth than what I thought it would be," said Rodriguez. "I was able to see how our defenders communicate, bond, operate and take control of situations."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment