Eielson Defenders Bring New Capabilities through Federal Accreditations

By Staff Sgt. Beaux Hebert, 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, 7 January 2022

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- 

Airmen from the 354th Security Forces Squadron fire handguns during a Special Response Team tryout 23 June 2021, on Eielson AFB, AK. With the addition of these security forces assets, Eielson’s lethality and readiness increases tremendously. (U.S. Air Force photo by SSgt Beaux Hebert)

Newly appointed Air Advisors, Crisis Negotiators and Special Reaction Team (SRT) Defenders from the 354th Security Forces Squadron were recognized by their squadron leadership Jan. 7, 2022 at a ceremony on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.

“Today we are recognizing our recent graduates of a federally-certified crisis negotiations course, federally certified SRT course and our new air advisors,” said 1st Lt. Adam Paini, the 354th SFS Contingency Operations officer in charge.

Air advisors work with partner nations to develop their aviation enterprises using the skills they already have as an Airman. Air advisors are trained to do five core functions: assess, train, advise, assist and equip. Eielson’s Air Advisor Defenders will be crucial when integrating with partner nations during Agile Combat Employment (ACE) situations.

Crisis Negotiators are security forces Defenders trained to successfully negotiate with emotionally distraught or deranged individuals. These Defenders have practiced and learned how to react to highly volatile situations, making every effort to use what they've learned to resolve the situations peacefully. This is a crucial asset to Eielson due to the harsh Alaskan weather and increased darkness contributing to mental health problems for some Airmen.

An SRT is the military version of civilian law enforcement’s special weapons and tactics (SWAT). They are dedicated to the preservation of life and property during critical incidents and high-risk operations. They are called upon to respond for service of high-risk search and arrests; incidents involving barricaded suspects, hostage rescues, or active shooters; crowd control; and other situations requiring resources beyond the capacity of the normal operations.

“This course has helped me become a better Defender,” said Airman 1st Class Wyatt Wilsey, an SRT course graduate. “The tactics and capabilities I learned there make me a more lethal and capable defender. I also look forward to passing on this knowledge to the rest of the squadron to help us all become better.”

With the addition of these security forces assets, Eielson’s lethality and readiness increases tremendously.

SrA Alexandranell Soto, a 354th Security Forces Special Response Team member, receives her duty identifier patch during a recognition ceremony 7 January 2022, on Eielson AFB, AK. An SRT is the military version of civilian law enforcement’s special weapons and tactics (SWAT). They are dedicated to the preservation of life and property during critical incidents and high-risk operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Elizabeth Schoubroek)

“These newly trained Airmen bring capabilities that we’ve never had before,” Paini said. “Defenders receive a decent amount of training for crisis response and high-risk events but very little specialized training. We were able to give these Airmen an opportunity to step outside the normal routine and receive training from different military branches and civilian departments which allows us to be more capable than a typical security forces unit when faced with those unique situations.”

Looking towards the future, the 354th SFS is going to offer more of these opportunities to their Airmen to continue to build up Eielson’s lethality and readiness.

“This is only the first iteration of getting Airmen certified. We want to continue to give these opportunities to all our Airmen and integrate the training they learned into our daily battle rhythm.” Paini said.

 

 

20th Security Forces Career Field Manager Selected

Chief Master Sgt. Donald S. Gallagher has been selected to become the 20th Security Forces Career Field Manager, becoming the top enlisted advisor to the Air Force Director of Security Forces.

In this role, Chief Gallagher will advise on security forces policy, organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining mission readiness impacting over 38,000 total force Defenders.

In selecting Chief Gallagher, Brig. Gen. Roy W. Collins, Director of Security Forces, said “Chief Gallagher is the Chief we need right now to lead the Security Forces Enterprise with all of the challenging and exciting things we will do in 2022.”

Brig Gen Collins went on to say, “Chief Gallagher definitely has the experience, new ideas, and teamwork mindset to lead our Enterprise.”

Chief Gallagher will takeover in April 2022. “It’s an unbelievable honor to have Brig Gen Collins select me to be his next Wingman. I am excited for this next challenge and I am so proud for the chance to represent and advocate for “Defender Nation”, 2022 is going to be a big year and I can’t wait to get after it,” Gallagher said.

CMSgt Gallagher is thoroughly prepared for the new assignment.

Prior to his selection as the next CFM, Chief Gallagher served as the Security Forces Manager (SFM) for Air Force Global Strike Command. In this capacity, he provides executive management and support for over 6,000 Security Forces Airmen assigned to 24 squadrons across nine wings on eight installations.

Chief Gallagher serves as the command’s principal Security Forces advisor on enlisted issues and interprets and ensures enforcement of nuclear and non-nuclear policy directives in order to execute combatant command war time taskings. Chief Gallagher makes and advocates leadership decisions deliberately motivating, coaching, and inspiring Airmen to become better followers, supervisors, and leaders. Ultimately delivering a more ready and agile Defender force to protect “Striker” installations, resources, and personnel.

Chief Gallagher “Crossed into the Blue” in 2003 after serving in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman, Infantryman, and a Cavalry Scout. Chief Gallagher served in the US and Korea with deployments in Egypt, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti and Qatar.

He was also the Chief Enlisted Manager of the 343d Training Squadron, “The Security Forces Academy”, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

“Chief Gallagher will help Defender Nation prepare for the Air Base Ground Defense mission and improve our Law Enforcement proficiency” said Collins. “I am confident in his ability to take us to the next level as we start executing on DEFNEXT32.”

Security Forces, Local Law Enforcement Partner for Police Pursuit Training

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, FL, UNITED STATES
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, by SSgt Magen M. Reeves, 22 December 2021

A grappler net deployed from the front fender of a 325th Security Forces Squadron truck and wrapped around the tire of a simulated runaway vehicle at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Dec. 21, 2021. The grappler system utilizes a netting which wraps around the runaway vehicle’s tire, forcing the tire to seize up and come to a stop. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Magen M. Reeves)

The 325th Security Forces Squadron partnered with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Stock Enterprises LLC to conduct police pursuit training utilizing a grappler system at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Dec. 21, 2021.

The grappler system is a new piece of equipment Defenders use to assist in their continued efforts in protecting and serving Airmen and the local community.

“The utilization of the grappler system adds another layer to the [Installation Integrated Defense Plan] by giving Defenders another tool to stop would be gate runners or hostile actors,” said Tech. Sgt. Phillip Hembree, 325th SFS resource advisor.

Approximately 18 miles of U.S. Highway 98 runs through Tyndall. Security forces members and civilian law enforcement agencies share jurisdiction of the highway, performing continuous training to enhance the security and safety of the communities.

“Having this system installed and clearly visible presents a significant deterrent,” said Hembree.

Stock Enterprises has been contracted by multiple bases since Beale Air Force Base, California, first acquired a grappler in 2018. There are approximately 17 grapplers in use at installations across the Air Force.

“The system utilizes a netting which leashes to a subject’s rear vehicle tire,” Hembree said. “It will then wrap around [the tire] utilizing the forward momentum of the tire forcing the tire to seize up resulting in the vehicle to be immobilized.”

In addition to the BCSO, Defenders worked with the inventor of the grappler product to ensure proper training techniques were passed to the unit.

“Creating and fostering a relationship with local law enforcement entities is a crucial element of securing Tyndall,” said Hembree.

Allowing security forces members the chance to see the grappler system in action gives context and provides a well-rounded understanding of how, when, where and why to employ the grappler.

“Conducting these joint training exercises and demonstrations sets a framework of how each organization operates and training methodologies,” Hembree said. “This enable Defenders and other law enforcement agencies to be in sync during joint responses where time is of the essence.”

Tier 2” Physical Fitness Test for Defenders

Defender Nation,

Last week your MAJCOM Security Forces Directors came together in San Antonio to work together on several strategic items for the Security Forces Enterprise (SFE).  In true Defender fashion, we started the week off with PT.  However, this wasn’t just any PT session, your Directors got to experience the Prototype for our new “Tier 2” Physical Fitness Test (PFT).  Over the next year, all Defenders will experience the test.

2022 will be an exciting year for the SFE as we work toward official adoption of our Tier 2 PFT.  Starting in early 2022, the Exercise Science Unit (ESU) will send small mobile teams to key locations world-wide to implement the Prototype by training SF Defenders to administer the PFT in their units. This is a great opportunity for Defenders to unofficially take the PFT and provide valuable feedback.  Then in the Fall of 2022, all Defenders will have multiple opportunities to take the final version of the SF Tier 2 PFT during a multi-month adaptation period prior to official adoption, not yet determined.

As we move ahead on this effort with the ESU, it will take an Enterprise effort to ensure we are focused on enhancing Defender physical fitness to ensure our continued success as Operational ready Defenders!

Important Note:  The above photos are NOT the test components…these are the task that drove the development of the components…which are pending approval…once all components are approved, we will have a DFC ALL call to ensure Defender Nation is tracking.

Defenders…Fit To Fight!

Stay Safe…Happy Holidays!

V/R,
Brig Gen Collins
Director of Security Forces

Law Enforcement Professionalism: Training is Key in Accelerating Change

In March 2021, the Director of Security Forces commissioned three, multi-major command reviews to assess training, review policy, strategy, and guidance, and evaluate mindset.

The reviews provided insights suggesting the force should realign on base defense. The Defender NEXT 32 (DEFNEXT32) initiative is an Enterprise-wide initiative that aims to refocus Air Base Ground Defense (ABGD) competencies as the Security Forces foundation.

The Total Force Approach is focused on optimizing the execution of ABGD through training. Security Forces will continue to refine lines of effort to ensure all Defenders are not just qualified but proficient at core skills.

Defenders must be proficient at core skills to ensure they have the muscle memory to analyze and determine appropriate actions for a variety of different scenarios. Training must be executed as it will be performed on duty because failure to do so has the potential to lead to catastrophic consequences.

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