Top agents praise OSI efforts within Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Lake
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  The Air Force's top Office of Special Investigations leaders recently spoke with agents and support personnel serving in Afghanistan during a Feb. 23 through 26 visit to Bagram Airfield.

Brig. Gen. Dana Simmons, the Air Force OSI commander, Col. Humberto Morales, the 24th Expeditionary Force Investigative Service commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Chris Redmond, the Air Force OSI command chief master sergeant, praised the efforts of Airmen and government civilians serving as OSI agents, intelligence analysts, linguists and tactical security specialists outside the wire.

"We just want to tell you your efforts have not gone unnoticed," General Simmons said during lunch with personnel assigned to the Air Force OSI Expeditionary Detachment 2405 here. "You're a small, but mighty outfit that is taking the fight to the enemy and you're doing things here that have never been done before."

The general, who started his Air Force career in security forces, said he understands the sacrifices made by those serving under his command.

"Since World War II, we have lost a total of nine agents, seven of those agents have been lost in this fight alone," he said. "You are making a difference for your fellow agents, the Air Force and this country."

General Simmons said the role of Air Force OSI in combat operations since Sept. 11, 2001, has developed a pool of battle-hardened agents and support personnel that will help shape the future of the organization.

The average experience for Air Force OSI personnel since expeditionary operations began nearly eight years ago is more than 4.5 years for enlisted Airmen, nearly seven years for officers and 11 years for government civilians, according to the general.

"It is time to use this experience to lead our organization into the future and move forward," General Simmons said. "It's time for us to figure out what we'll be doing tomorrow, today. We have to do this for the next generation of agents and support personnel who will inevitably take our place."

On the same note, Chief Redmond stressed the importance of recruiting enlisted Airmen into the OSI career fields.

"If we don't recruit, we'll dry up," he said. "Right now we're targeting staff sergeants with roughly six to eight years time in service and technical sergeants with less than two years time in grade. If we don't fill our (technical school's) class seats, then we're going to have empty slots at bases."

The chief explained how OSI personnel could also explore options in the civilian and officer career tracks of OSI depending on their personal goals.

"Enlisted Airmen can either stay on the technical track or pursue leadership positions once they become senior NCOs," Chief Redmond said. "Civilians have the option to stay on the technical track their entire career, or pursue a leadership track, which would mean more frequent moves throughout their career. The officer positions exist strictly for leadership opportunities."

Not long before General Simmons watched some Airmen from the detachment depart for a mission outside the wire, he stressed how Air Force leaders are constantly looking to provide the best equipment available. He stated 9 mm pistols would soon be replaced by .45-caliber pistols to provide agents with better "stopping power" against deadly targets.

He added that efforts are also underway to import smaller, more versatile models of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles to better navigate Afghanistan's mountainous terrain.

Colonel Morales said while better equipment helps save lives, so does good training and smart thinking.

"Always remember your tactics, techniques and procedures and your standard operating procedures," he said. "I know that training days aren't fun, but that's what helps keep you alive. When it comes to operational risk management, know that every mission is weighed heavily by leadership before sending you outside the wire on a mission."

The three leaders also took time to answer questions from Airmen and their civilian counterparts about various issues including the relocation effort of Air Force OSI headquarters from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to a consolidated Department of Defense headquarters at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.

The move is part of a Base Realignment and Closure recommendation to consolidate all defense investigative agencies into one location, General Simmons said.

"This move should help improve our coordination with other agencies," he said. 

General Simmons stressed to Airmen and their civilian counterparts the importance of the work they do out in the field each and every day.

"You're the silent heroes of the Air Force doing things to keep other Airmen alive, and we're proud of that," General Simmons said.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page