Eielson units initiate total force integration

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. William Farrow
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) --  Eielson units are combining efforts in the spirit of the total force vision by streamlining cooperative continuity and training. 

The total force concept eliminates redundancy and simplifies resources, allowing active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen to meet challenges with smaller and more capable, experienced and agile forces. 

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Security Forces Squadron and the active-duty 354th Security Forces Squadron recently celebrated the grand opening of Defenders’ Hall -- a 39,000-square-foot shared security forces facility. 

Having both units under one roof improves training quality and enables more efficient communication, said Maj. Roy Godfrey, commander of the 354th SFS. 

“We both benefit greatly and having both units together is an enabler for our training," Major Godfrey said. "Active-duty folks perform the air base defense mission every day and can help train the Guard. Guard troops bring law enforcement skills to the training table, too. ” 

Senior Master Sgt. Alan Carvajal, of the 168th SFS, said the integration crystallizes the law enforcement experience for both Guard and active-duty security forces, plus enhances their overall effectiveness. 

The 168th SFS employs not only traditional guardsmen -- Airmen with civilian jobs who serve the Guard one weekend a month and two consecutive weeks a year -- but also  full-time Airmen with a lot of experience, Sergeant Carvajal said. 

“They’re usually longtime residents of the area and they can teach active-duty personnel -- people who are normally here for only three or four years -- about the community,” he said.

Sergeant Carvajal served as an Alaska State Trooper until he took a full-time Guard position with the 168th SFS. 

“Some of our Guard personnel have full-time law enforcement careers, and some of us full-time Guard technicians left civilian law enforcement jobs,” he said. “This all increases the total force experience level and adds continuity to the mission here at Eielson.” 

Another Eielson unit experiencing benefits of integrated operations is the 354th Fighter Wing command post, which welcomed the Guard’s command post operations into the fold more than a month ago. 

According to Master Sgt. Steven Guyton, superintendent of the 168th Air Refueling Wing command post, integration means bolstered manning numbers, plus the potential for enhanced expeditionary operations. 

Sergeant Guyton said that before the combination it was a challenge to keep current on all operations because there was no mission duplication or availability to train in every facet of the career field.

“As separate units, we supported the 168th ARW, but when it came to day-to-day command post operations -- like running emergency procedure checklists -- the active-duty side got all the business,” Sergeant Guyton said. “As a combined flight, we still concentrate on supporting the Guard’s KC-135 (Stratotanker) mission, but now we’re involved in all the routine operations of the command post.

“We (Guard command post personnel) were in a position where we weren’t fully utilized in our career field, but now that we’re a vital part of a full-up command post facility, we’re able to take on tasks and gain experience and expertise,” he said. 

Sergeant Guyton said that because the Guard’s command post Airmen work with active-duty, the training and day-to-day working relationship enhances the Guard’s ability to deploy, too. 

“We gain so much from the integration that if the Air Force needs to deploy trained command post personnel -- people who can pick up the job anywhere -- we can step up to the plate and do the work of our active-duty counterparts,” Sergeant Guyton said.