917th SFS train for the battle ahead

Published April 24, 2009
By Master Sg. Mary Hinson
917 Wing Public Affairs

Barksdale AFB, La. -- A five-vehicle convoy begins its mission to deliver a member of a religious support team to an undisclosed location. As they make their way down a desolate dirt road, someone spots a suspicious object on the side of the road. Gunners relay the halt order from one vehicle to the next. Suddenly, smoke snakes across the silver sky. "Contact right, contact right." Everyone takes position and returns fire. As the air once again becomes still, the patrol listens for evidence of combatants still in the area as they sweep the surroundings woods. Just as it seems the attack has ceased a voice shouts, "End ex, end ex."

While this was just an exercise scenario, the situation is all too real and familiar for security forces member deploying. It is for this reason 11 members of the 917th Security Forces Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., were among the nearly 100 security forces attending sustainment training at Fort Wolters, Texas.
The aim of this training is to prepare security forces members - active duty, Reserve and National Guard - for situations they may encounter while deployed, so they won't be caught unprepared.

"I've seen what lack of training does," said Master Sgt. Ron Pry, an instructor with the 610th Security Forces Squadron out of Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base Forth Worth, Texas. "You never know what mission is coming down... (This class) prepares them for the worst case scenario in case they have to use these type of skills when deployed."

The two-week training included classroom instruction, as well as hands-on work, on topics such as mounted operations, land navigation, urban operations and how to respond to an improvised explosive device. It progresses through a "crawl, walk, run" method, according to Staff Sgt. Scott Truman, a combat skills instructor with the 610th SFS. "We give them classroom training. Then we walk through the scenarios. Finally, with the field exercise, they are expected to apply everything they were taught."

At the training location, there are miles of austere roads and a mock urban city designed to resemble what many foreign locations look like. Also, during parts of the training, dye-marking simunition is used to add to the true effect, according to Sergeant Truman. "We try to make training as realistic as possible."

For many traditional reservists, the skills for their military career aren't readily exercised on a daily basis. Training such as this gives them a chance to hone the skills they might not regularly use.

"It's really important to refresh and familiarize ourselves with what we need to do," said Airman 1st Class Rebekah Quijada, a first-time attendee with the 917th SFS.

Aside from the valuable training provided, the different components learn to come together and work as a single force.

"When you deploy, you end up working with other units," said Master Sgt. Simmie Brown of the 917th SFS who was appointed as a flight leader during the training. "When the active duty and Reserve come together, they can learn a lot (and) gain respect."

Also, the time spent working together helps the unit build a bond and trust in each other. "It builds unit cohesiveness, camaraderie," said Sergeant Brown.

Since first and foremost it is about learning, the 610th SFS instructors hope each student continues to build on the basics they have been taught. "The training doesn't stop here," said Sergeant Truman. "We are giving them the basis of a foundation to inspire them to keep learning because the more they know, the better off they will be."

At the end of the day, the team gathers around with contemplative expressions for their final outbrief. They recount the successes and mistakes of the day, confident they have learned something to prepare them for the deployments to come. Tech. Sgt. Jason Hadley, 917th SFS member, sums it up when he said, "I've been over there. It is better to learn here than to get over there and have to learn on the fly."