Ellsworth cops take to the skies

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFPN) --  In the remote forward-operating locations of Afghanistan and surrounding areas, Air Force aircraft often have to land on dirt-strip runways. Air Force aircraft might look like the proverbial sitting duck to an enemy combatant or rogue insurgent, but nothing could be further from the truth. Should a bad guy try to harm a mission-critical asset or its crew, he will be met by Airmen in flight suits toting some hard-hitting weaponry.

Some of Ellsworth AFB's 28th Security Forces Squadron Airmen exchanged their desert combat uniforms for flyer garb as members of a flyaway security team, or FAST. These cops accompany flights to to remote areas to secure Air Force aircraft and members.

"The function of a flyaway mission is to provide security for aircraft and aircrew in locations where the Air Force deems security not adequate," said Senior Airman Kyle Battell, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron response force leader at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

Airman Battell said he has conducted 10 flyaway missions since arriving to his deployed location in Afghanistan.

"What I enjoy most (about flyaway missions) is experiencing and interacting with a different career field, and being able to see different parts of the area of operations," he said. "These missions are an additional duty and we have to conduct them on our days off, but in most cases it's worth it."

Other Ellsworth AFB Airmen echoed his thoughts about this unique mission cops are taking on.

"We get to sit on the flight deck and listen to the crew talk back and forth and hear them talk to the control towers," said Tech. Sgt. Sheila Wilson, 455th ESFS flight chief. "We get to see several different places and see so much more than if we were grounded to one place. The combat landings are great!"

Those landings involve being in some pretty grim places.

"Most of the locations are desolate with mountains surrounding the airfield," said Airman Battell. "Some are built up with hardened facilities and others are just dirt runways with no control towers."

Not just anyone can perform FAST missions. The qualification training is demanding and pushes trainees to their limits.

Before deploying, nine Ellsworth AFB Airmen attended Phoenix Raven School in Fort Dix, N.J., to qualify for FAST missions.

"Training in all was very tough and physically demanding," said Senior Airman John
Cooke, 455th ESFS response force leader.

The training covered hand-to-hand combat, pressure point manipulation and movement techniques, and combat with an expandable baton. The training didn't stop there. The security forces members on these missions have been trained to talk down a bad guy using a skill called verbal judo.

"(Verbal judo) is being able to talk to an individual and being able to get them to do what you need them to do without getting loud or upset," Airman Cooke said.

A typical FAST mission involves taking off, landing at a remote location, loading and off loading cargo, and returning home. During the mission, the aircrew treats them like fellow flyers.

Airman Battell said the interface with the flight crew is his favorite part of performing a FAST mission.

"Cops and aircrews get along great and enjoy flying together," he explained. "We provide help with any cargo and passengers during the flights as long as it doesn't hinder our security detail."

Airman Cooke echoed that sentiment of teamwork.

"(Our assistance) tells the crew and the pilot we care and we are not just along for the ride," he said.

Sergeant Wilson agreed.

"They treat us as part of the crew," she said. "They know if we weren't there, they'd have to take control of aircraft security and try to manage their job as well. Plus, we have more firepower than they do."