Learning early: First-term Airmen learn security forces skills

  • Published
  • By Airman Eric Schloeffel
  • 347th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  Airmen fresh out of basic training and technical school are now receiving a security forces introduction here in line with new Air Force security forces training initiatives.

The 347th Security Forces Squadron recently introduced a five-day augmentee course for recent graduates of the Moody’s First Term Airman Center. The 347th Rescue Wing Augmentee Course teaches base protection techniques so Airmen can assist security forces in emergency situations.

All new first-term Airmen must complete FTAC, which provides information on base services and acquaints them with the active-duty lifestyle.

“One way we can catch Airmen and teach them this training is when they first get here,” said Staff Sgt. Clinton Ellis, 347th SFS unit training manager and augmentee course instructor. “These Airmen are brand new to the military and base, so this course ensures they receive this training (early in their career).”

Some of the curriculum lessons include entry control, rules of engagement, military law, bomb threat procedures and handcuffing. The Airmen also train with the M-16.

“They receive a full onslaught of security forces training,” Sergeant Ellis said. “One good thing about being (security forces) is our job centers around common sense. They pick it up pretty fast.”

Once the Airmen complete the course, they become certified augmentees for one year.

“The Airmen are put into a pool of names and anytime we need augmentees for a high-risk situation, we’ll call them up,” Sergeant Ellis said. “Also, if we have a manning problem or if force protection levels go up, they can work for us.”

Because of deployment surges for wartime operations, some new Airmen have been called on to provide augmentee duty, Sergeant Ellis said.

Airman Sarah Hagood, 347th Communications Squadron, was recently tasked with 30 days of augmentee work.

Her duties included 12-hour shifts during a three-day-on, three-day-off work schedule.

“I patrolled the flightline in a car with an M-16,” Airman Hagood said. “I made sure nobody was around the flightline area who wasn’t supposed to be.”

Airman Hagood attests to the valuable lessons she’s learned during her experiences as an augmentee.

“You learn many new things working as an augmentee in the real world (as opposed to learning in class),” she said. “I feel people who deploy really should know these things.”

In some cases, students benefit from augmentee training in seemingly unintended ways, Sergeant Ellis said.

“A lot of these Airmen are relaxed and quiet when they first get here,” Sergeant Ellis said. “This class allows them to step out of their shell and yell at somebody. It builds confidence. Security forces can be very exciting.”

Besides the new Airmen, the augmentee training is a requirement for some Airmen in the mission support group.

“The 347th MSG is sending people monthly to the five-day course, and then they’ll actually work for 30 days with security forces,” Sergeant Ellis said. “We have four 347th MSG Airmen who are actually working with us now.”

Volunteers are also welcome to take the course.

Even though there are no current plans to require the training for all base military members, the goal of this course reflects the new Air Force-wide initiatives to create a force of “Warrior Airmen,” Sergeant Ellis said.

“(The new AF initiative) is definitely background for why we have this course,” he said. “In crises like 9/11, we had a lot of augmentees working the gates. We saw we needed supplements for our own staff, and the new Air Force (leaders) want everyone to (have these skills).”

Teaching base security measures to Airmen from a wide variety of Air Force specialty codes is a doctrine that not only helps security forces, but has long-range benefits for the Air Force, he said.

“I definitely think this makes the Air Force safer,” Sergeant Ellis said. “The more people knowledgeable about (augmentee duty), the better.”