Barksdale Reservists set the standard in Kirkuk

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq --  Airmen of the 917th Security Forces Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., are helping put to rest the possible misconception that pilots are the only Air Force members engaged in the fight in Iraq.

Kirkuk Regional Air Base is currently the only installation in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility where Air Force security forces are responsible for 100 percent of the perimeter security mission, said Lt. Col. Christopher Simpson, 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron commander.

Airmen from the 917 SFS have now settled into their positions within the 506th ESFS for the next six months.

The 506 ESFS, the largest squadron on Kirkuk, comprises almost half of the 506th Air Expeditionary Group and includes both active-duty and reserve Airmen from 32 different home-station units. Airmen perform K-9, Raven-B unmanned aircraft system and heavy-weapon missions in addition to their more traditional law enforcement and force protection roles. Security forces Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command make up about 80 percent of the squadron's force.

"[The Reserve] is extremely proud to have the bulk of the defense of this base," said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Cain, 506 ESFS chief enlisted manager, who is deployed from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. "The active-duty units are basically force multipliers for us. It's unique for the theater - you won't find that any another place."

"I think it just shows being a Reservist in today's' Air Force is not like it used to be," said Master Sgt. Charles Parker, 506 ESFS, flight chief, who is deployed here from Barksdale Air Force Base, La. "The operations tempo of the military has dictated that we, as reservists, have to step up and take on a more active role."

The mission for the 506 ESFS couldn't get any clearer, said Simpson, a traditional Reservist who is deployed from Duke Field, Fla.

"From a security forces standpoint, it's simple - defend the base. Security is the number one mission for the group - defending the base is the number one mission for our squadron," Simpson said.

Security forces Airmen undergo supplemental training before they deploy to meet the threats of the AOR. They attend Patriot Defender at Air Force Reserve Command's Regional Training Center for pre-deployment training at Camp Gruber, Okla., according to Staff Sgt Joshua Feliciano, 506 ESFS, lead radio transmitting officer who is deployed from Barksdale AFB, La.

Fighting complacency among the flight members is the biggest challenge for a flight chief, said Parker, who calls Tyler, Texas home. It has been proven there are 'bad guys' very close with the desire and capability to do us harm. We need to remain vigilant at all times.

Although the 506 ESFS Airmen conduct their operations inside the wire, information from outside the wire is also an important issue. The squadron does not conduct joint tactical operations with the Army but regularly shares information, Simpson said.

"What the Army shares from their outside-the-wire missions is critical when it comes to us developing and putting together a plan for our internal security mission," the colonel said. "The information they provide helps us identify our security priorities."

Reservists bring new perspective to the fight because of their unique backgrounds in their career fields, Simpson said.

"Many of our Airmen are seasoned law-enforcement professionals in their civilian jobs and are much more experienced when dealing with confrontation management situations," he said. "We have prior Army and Marine Corps members who joined the Air Force Reserve, and they bring a wealth of combat experience with them. But no matter what the specialties, they are all professional Airmen."

Being a civilian police office for almost 10 years is a benefit when it comes to working as a team and accomplishing the mission with different people from a wide range of experience and training, said Feliciano.

And each of them is charged with a vital role in defending the base, the colonel added.

"When you give an Airman a loaded weapon, and you say, 'It's your job to make sure nobody attacks us or degrades our mission,' that's a huge responsibility, especially in this environment," Simpson said.