Escorts serve as base’s second line of defense

  • Published
  • By Maj. Bernadette Dozier
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  They come from different career fields, but while deployed, they come together to serve as a critical line of defense for the base.

Deployed Airmen throughout U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility serve as escorts to foreign workers daily. The program falls under each base’s expeditionary civil engineering squadron.

The escort program is an essential part of the overall force-protection effort at this forward-deployed location, said Maj. James Record, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing force protection chief.

“If security forces are the first line of defense, then the escorts are the second line of defense,” he said. “They are the eyes-on-target, ensuring the local work force is doing what they are hired to do. While most of the workers are good hardworking people, some are easily used by our enemies for information gathering.”

In the past, force-protection officials have received reports of foreign workers measuring distances between buildings, drawing maps or even stealing.

“The escorts help to ensure none of these activities happen under their watch,” Major Record said.

Early each morning, a three-person crew inprocesses the foreign workers at the main gate, then various escort teams meet the workers and take them through the search pits and to their job sites, said Senior Master Sgt. Richard Safonovs, 379th ECES escort flight chief, deployed here from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.

The escorts do a variety of duties, from overseeing construction sites for 20 base projects, to supervising latrine cleanings and following sewer or trash vehicles. Airmen also staff the escort control center where they are responsible for tracking the movement of all escorts and their workers around the clock.

“I have individuals who are happy to be here because for once they’re not being shot at or having to put people in body bags,” Sergeant Safonovs said.

Airman 1st Class Christian Honda said he feels like he is contributing to the mission. He is a telephone maintainer deployed here from the 75th Communications Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah.

“It’s important to stay focused and alert at all times. As escorts, you help provide security and safety for everyone at the work site,” Airman Honda said. “It’s been a pleasurable experience. I’ve had a chance to meet a lot of nice people in my flight, and I’ve met some nice (foreign workers).”

Sergeant Safonovs said there is an advantage to having foreign workers working on base.

“If we did not have (them) working for the Air Force, squadrons would have to set up details to clean the latrines and perform base-wide trash patrols. CE, along with services, would have to triple in size in order to provide the manpower to pick up trash and clean out and haul away sewage,” he added. “By having the (foreign workers) work for us, they allow more manpower to focus on warfighting.”

While escort duty may seem tedious at times, the escorts help ensure the workers are doing the work and not gathering intelligence, the flight chief said.

“The most important part of our job is to monitor action and maintain positive control over (local and foreign workers),” Sergeant Safonovs said. “In particular, areas containing critical personnel, equipment or information must be protected from sabotage or disclosure to enemy intelligence. These escorts provide the last security buffer between contracted personnel and the base population.”

Sergeant Safonovs said the most interesting part of this job is learning about the lifestyles, culture and religious behavior of the foreign workers. He said this helps young Airmen who have never been away from the United States appreciate what they have.

They also witness the day-to-day progress on the construction sites.

“We have the privilege to witness the growth and improvement of (this base) firsthand,” he said.

Probably the most difficult part of this job is dealing with rude people when the latrines are closed, Sergeant Safonovs said. While there is no opportune time to close down the latrines, they must be cleaned.

“(People) curse out the workers or my escorts almost daily. The escorts need to maintain their professionalism, which I am very proud they’ve done,” he said.

In addition, the escorts must deal with the summer heat, yet remain alert and present a professional image at all times.

“The image we present about how we Americans behave and act (is what the foreign workers) will carry to the outside world,” Sergeant Safonovs said.

“The escorts’ backgrounds vary,” he said. “It’s a challenge to mold this variety of individuals into a team, but these folks have come together quickly and are doing an outstanding job for the wing. I’m very proud of this team.”