Training prepares Airmen to handle violent situations

  • Published
  • By Jake Shaw
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AFNEWS) --  In most schools, students are expected to behave. At Homestead, one group of students not only fought with their instructors, but it was encouraged.

Twenty-five security forces Airmen took part in unarmed defensive tactics training here Feb. 10.

The class taught skills such as law enforcement presence, safety, communication, transporting detainees, distraction, take-downs, impact weapons and handcuffing strategies, said Master Sgt. Chad Martens, 482nd Security Forces Squadron training instructor. The focus of the course was learning use-of-force actions to take when faced with dynamic and dangerous circumstances.

"We use real scenarios, like an assault on a police officer, a drunken fight at a club or an angry protest during the training," said Tech. Sgt. Craig Campbell, 482nd Security Forces training NCO.

Sergeant Campbell said the training is important because security forces Airmen could face similar situations as they perform their real-world duties.

For example, some situations may start out friendly but turn ugly quickly, Sergeant Campbell said. Without the proper training this escalation can result in deadly consequences.

Part of the unarmed defensive tactics training emphasized ways to determine the proper amount of force needed to control a situation. This included learning when to add power and when to turn it down.

"You don't bring a gun to a knife-fight and you don't bring a knife to a gun-fight," Sergeant Campbell said. "You have to use the correct amount of force to defuse a situation and get things under control quickly."

The course included more than just the skills training for many of the Airmen. 

"The Airmen need the skills, but they also need to build trust in each other," Sergeant Campbell said. With so many new faces in the squadron, this was an opportunity to develop these bonds, he said.

During one phase of the training, they paired up for practical application of their new skills to build teamwork and trust. The instructors put on red padded suits and played the part of "Red Man" attackers.

The challenge for the trainees was to gain control of unstable situations. To reinforce lessons in unpredictability, the Red Men often lulled trainees into a false sense of control with friendly chatter only to renew their attacks. Like the real world, a bad situation is not over until it is over.

The instructors also provided scenarios that made trainees think about how they would react to violent situations, whether in a combat area or at home station. They hope the Airmen will remember the day of training when similar situations face them outside of the training room.

"I learned a lot and had fun," said Senior Airman Darlessia Gregory, 482nd SFS. "I think this was good for our morale, and it makes me feel more confident about doing my job." 

(Air Force Reserve Command News Service) 

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