Mission focus combats complacency

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Andrew Gates
  • 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Two narrow wire fences -- one of looped concertina wire, one of interlaced metal strands a quarter inch thick -- are all that appear to stand between coalition forces and potential enemies.

Appearances, however, can be deceiving, as integrated layers of defense provide protection for forces here. Air Force security forces specialists are critical to that defense.

“Our main priority is to make sure no one harms our aircraft or people,” said Staff Sgt. David Hess, from the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, while on a recent early morning patrol along the outer perimeter of the base. “We make sure everyone stays safe to do their mission without being interrupted by attacks. People can’t recover aircraft if they are constantly being rocketed or attacked.”

Security force teams are somewhat analogous to T-cells in the human body, said Staff Sgt. John Holland, deployed here from Misawa Air Base, Japan. “If you think of the mission as a body, we go take care of problems when they rise up. Our sole purpose in the mission is to address and answer the question ‘what if?’”

With most of the security forces here currently in the fifth month of a six-month deployment, and with few direct attacks against the forces at Bagram, complacency is the team’s biggest enemy. To combat that, the Airmen here have a single-minded focus on the mission, said Sergeant Hess.

“I focus on the mission. When I have a patrol, I change the routine to make it more interesting,” he said. “I may stop along the route and scan the surrounding area for a while, or I think about where possible attacks might come from and how to combat those attacks.”

Finally, he said he remembers the security lessons learned throughout the three years since operations started here.

“I look at what happened to Airmen in the past and don’t copy their errors. I want to go home with all my limbs intact,” he said.

Mixing up duties and partners also helps combat complacency, said Airman 1st Class Ryan Flory.

“We look out for each other,” he said. “If we see someone getting complacent, we talk to them and get them refocused.”

Training helps keep the job fresh and interesting, as well as providing the opportunities for veteran deployed Airman to share knowledge on tactics and techniques with younger Airmen, said Sergeant Hess.

“We share a lot of information about previous deployments in training scenarios -- what we’ve seen and how we responded,” the sergeant said.

“I’m learning a lot here I can use at home,” said Airman Flory, who is currently on his first deployment after seven months in the career field. “Then, the next time I am on deployment, I can share what I’ve learned with other security force Airmen.”

Focusing on the importance of the mission and what security forces does is extremely important in combating complacency, said Sergeant Holland.

“This is a combat zone, and unfortunately, people are dying,” he said. “I would be cold-hearted indeed if I saw the (helicopters) with red crosses come in and not have some reaction. I know how important my job is to minimizing danger to people here. I am going to make sure I stay frosty and ensure my troops are, so they are ready to support the mission, as well.”

Being a part of being a part of history, and keeping people safe in these times, are important to the security forces Airmen.

“I wish I could do more,” said Airman Flory. “It’s a great opportunity to be here and be able to say in the future that I was a part of this.”

“Anything you do in the military automatically makes you a part of history,” said Sergeant Holland. “The military is a true melting pot of America. My service here helps me connect with my heritage -- my father and uncles were in uniform. I’m serving here with a great deal of honor, and a great deal of humility. I feel great about being here.”