Base defense mission goes beyond perimeter

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kristina Barrett
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  Most security forces Airmen patrol the base looking for anything out of the ordinary and pull 12-hour shifts in towers along the fenceline.

But, for Airmen assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, their mission is different. They take the base defense mission beyond the wire and into the city of Kirkuk, which lies just beyond the perimeter.

These Airmen, deployed from the 822nd Security Forces Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., are conducting combat patrols outside the confines of the base. With this mission comes unique requirements, all of which culminate in their abilities to respond to a situation each time they roll out of the gate into the city beyond.

“Each member on the teams knows how (he or she is) going to react,” said Tech. Sgt. Franklin Barnett, patrol master. “We train our Airmen to a baseline standard which they will adhere to in case something doesn’t go as planned.”

Every time a forward patrol goes "outside the wire," the team takes time to rehearse actions on the objective, whether it's an improvised explosive device, ambush or sniper. Sergeant Barnett equated the training to rehearsing for “the big game.”

“Our battle drills and procedures are pre-identified and trained on back at home station, but are always evolving to counter the specific threats we experience here,” he said. “What we do back home is run ‘plays’ in preparation for the real thing.”

This is where the importance of training comes in. The Airmen train on different scenarios, so when faced with the real thing, they can act on instinct because they’ve already experienced something similar.

“If the enemy changes tactics, we change tactics,” Sergeant Barnett added. “We have the ability to adjust to any threats, based on intelligence we receive.”

The squadron is able to achieve success by using an integrated base defense system. It takes the various elements of security forces and employs them in such a way that if one is breached, the others still stand.

“Our goal is to limit the freedom of maneuver of anti-Iraqi forces within the base defense zone,” said Maj. Don Robertson, commander of the 506th ESFS. “The different elements work together to not just secure the base, but the area around the base.”

Each mission requires a different element employed to block the threats. Each element comes together to form a web of defenses -- a web no "bad guy" wants to get caught up in, he said. 

“We are not a reactive unit,” Major Robertson said.” We are on the offensive going out, looking for the enemy and mitigating the threat to our airfield.”

The squadron uses elements for base defenses such as the towers on the perimeter, the force protection airborne surveillance system overhead and cameras posted at strategic locations.

The base defense zone includes the towns dotting the Iraqi countryside. For these missions, the unit uses the airborne surveillance system and countersnipers to watch over the patrol. Military working dogs work along side the Airmen.

“These elements augment our mission and put eyes where we need them,” Sergeant Barnett said. “Everything comes together and provides a seamless defense of the airfield from outside the wire.”

Each little piece is a force multiplier, Major Robertson said, and works in concert to provide defense in whatever mission the squadron is conducting on both sides of the fenceline.

The cop mission here defies the conventional wisdom that base defense can only be done from the confines of the base, said Capt. Michael Borders, 506th ESFS operations officer. Base defense takes place on both sides of the wire.

“The enemy doesn’t launch rockets or mortars from inside the base,” he said. “The activity from outside the base affects our operations inside the base.

“We can’t stare through the fence and wonder why the bad guys are still hitting us," Captain Borders said. "We have to take the fight to the enemy.”