Airmen from different specialties serve as escorts

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Debbie Aragon
  • 407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  A tight-knit group of jet-engine mechanics, radar operators, communications specialists, medical administrators and transportation troops, to name a few, makeup the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s force protection flight here.

With a motto of “Eyes on, Watch Your Back,” about 50 force protection Airmen from a wide variety of Air Force specialties are on the front lines of force protection issues everyday. They escort an average of 170 third-country or local-national workers while they are on base, said Master Sgt. Max Babbitt, force protection superintendent.

“The force protection escort is a vital piece of the defense of our base,” said 2nd Lt. James Habeck, the 407th Air Expeditionary Group’s anti-terrorism/force protection officer. “These airmen understand all local and third-country nationals have the potential to be a threat to our installation. That’s tough to come to terms with since a large majority of them are simply trying to earn money to feed their families, but that small minority may be under the influence of the insurgents in the local area.

“I’ve seen airmen from so many different career fields, performing to such a high level in this temporary duty,” Lieutenant Habeck said. “They build rapport with (local workers), but they understand the potential danger each one could pose.”

The civilian workers “may be tasked with collecting intelligence on the base, or worse, to take part in a plot to attack us,” the lieutenant said, “but either way, our (force protection) escorts are our first line of defense against this type of activity.”

Whether they are cleaning restrooms and showers, renovating a building, delivering concrete to a work site or pressing uniforms, all civilian workers must be escorted at all times, Sergeant Babbitt said.

The sergeant arrived here from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., expecting to be part of the utilities shop. When an opening came up in the force protection flight, he said he jumped at the opportunity to expand his horizons.

“I volunteered to step out of my career field and get involved in the force protection side of the house,” Sergeant Babbitt said. “Now I’m doing something I had no idea I’d be doing ... stepping out and learning a lot of the security forces kinds of jobs and how important they are. It’s real challenging, but I look forward to going to work every day.”

As the superintendent, he is responsible for the health and welfare of all of the troops in his flight.

“Being in the force protection flight brings awesome responsibility for our younger troops,” Sergeant Babbitt said. “For most of them, it’s their first time deployed, and they understand they’re looking out for thousands of American and coalition troops deployed here.

“I know the mission comes first, but my troops are a priority for me because I know without them, the mission won’t get done,” he said. “When my shift is over, I don’t go home until every last one of them has been released.”

Out of all of the rotations that come here, the one from June to September is probably the hardest, Sergeant Babbitt said, because of the heat and long workdays.

“That’s what separates this team from the rest of the teams … the warriors from the wimps,” he said. “These guys are out in the sun all day. Even with shade and ice water, it doesn’t seem like it’s enough.”

Airman 1st Class Caroline George, a control and warnings system radar specialist deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, is one of the junior Airmen in the flight. She said there is not much you can do with the working conditions except drink a lot of water.

Working force protection requires longer hours than most career fields, with typical 13 to 15 hour days, but that is “cool” with her, she said.

“I have a lot of responsibility, but not in a bad way,” she said. “I feel like I’m doing good, protecting the people on the base while at the same time helping to allow the local people to work. They’ve had a very sad life, and most of them jump at the chance to be able to work.”

Airmen assigned to the force protection flight, many who rarely touch a weapon, are carrying weapons and live ammunition every day.

“I’ve seen (the Airmen) come together as a tight group who take care of one another,” Sergeant Babbitt said, “and they’re all more comfortable (with carrying a weapon) but at the same time, more safety conscious as well because when you carry a live weapon, you have to be very strict.”

Airman George said she now views her weapon like her best friend.

“I can pretty much take my weapon apart and put it back together again in my sleep,” she said.

When she returns to her home unit in Japan, Airman George said she will live with lasting memories of her experience here.

“I was here helping at the time of the change of government in Iraq,” she said. “I’ll be able to tell my grandkids about that. How grandma was here when that happened. That I knew them, I watched them, I talked with them, and I even learned some Arabic.”

Sergeant Babbitt said he will leave with a strong sense of accomplishment.

“It’s the leadership role I was able to be a part of, pulling security, working with security forces. I feel like I’ve accomplished something very important -- one of the milestones of my career.

“That will always stick out in my mind … accomplishing something really great,” Sergeant Babbitt said.