Airmen decrease base threats with random antiterrorism measures

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) --  All Airmen are responsible for protecting against terrorism, but the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Airmen here have it down to a science -- through random antiterrorism measures.

The measures are designed to consistently change the look of an installation's force-protection plan, and is part of a Department of Defense-wide program to defeat surveillance attempts and make it difficult for terrorists to accurately predict the actions of their intended targets.

"All servicemembers on base execute RAMs to a certain degree," said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Williamson, the 332nd ESFS NCO in charge of operations support. "But when Air Force security forces do RAMs, we go above and beyond."

"We go to varying locations at different times of day," said Senior Airman Anthony Gist, a 332nd ESFS patrolman. "The part that makes this work is the unpredictability of where and when we will be doing them."

The 332nd ESFS patrolmen, who focus on inside-the-wire threats, include mitigation techniques in their antiterrorism endeavors.

One form of mitigation is transfrisking -- running a handheld metal detector alongside a person to identify concealed contraband objects.

Another mitigation technique is a biometrics systems check, which uses technology to match an identification-card holder with their fingerprint.

"We're making sure people are who they say they are," said Airman Gist. "We don't want people portraying to be someone they're not by having another person's ID card."

Sergeant Williamson, who has worn the security forces badge for 13 years, said the measures work to reaffirm base directives.

"Basically, we're ensuring that people are staying honest and doing what they are supposed to be doing on the installation," he said. "They know what they're supposed to have. They know what they're not supposed to have. We just keep them honest."

Although Air Force security forces are holding down the fort, it doesn't mean they can't use help from their comrades.

Senior Airman Rodney Creekmore, a 332nd ESFS patrolman, cited the practice of operational security as a way all Airmen can assist security forces in maintaining base safety.

"We all have to remain cognizant of what we talk about out loud," he said. "This is especially true around nonmilitary personnel."

Withholding information at certain times is crucial to operational security, but it's just as important for Airmen to know when it's time to pass information to the right people.

"Every Airman has the responsibility to call security forces if they see something out of the ordinary," Sergeant Williamson said. "Although there are enough cops here to do air base defense, we can't be everywhere at every time. Just like it's been said, every Airman is a sensor."