Air Force Security Forces Complete Tour in Iraq

Defend America News ^ | Sgt. Waine D. Haley

[SandRat]

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cody Nelson (left), with the 28th Security Forces Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., and Senior Airman Brandon Alsop (right), with the 151st Security Forces Squadron, Utah Air National Guard, practice firing the MK19 machine gun. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo

Air Force Security Forces Complete Tour in Iraq

For the last six months Contingency Operating Base Speicher has been
kept safe and secure by the outstanding work of Air Force security forces.

Sgt. Waine D. Haley
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TIKRIT, Iraq, July 12, 2006 -- For the last six months Contingency Operating Base Speicher has been kept safe and secure by the outstanding work of Air Force security forces.

Detetachment. 1, 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group, has maintained security on Contingency Operating Base Speicher under the command of the 101st Airborne Division.

The detachment is comprised of airmen from five different installations around the Air Force: Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., and Utah Air National Guard.

“In the last six months we’ve improved the living conditions on the base.” Capt. Sascha Archie, operations officer

Attribution

“In the last six months we’ve improved the living conditions on the base,” said Capt. Sascha Archie, operations officer, 28th Security Forces Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. and a Huntsville, Ala., native.

Archie goes on to say he believes the base is a safer place to live and work because people know there will be law enforcement presence on the base.

The security force was instrumental in the process of conducting investigations on the base. When a unit appoints an investigating officer for an incident, they may not know all the rules of the law, how to properly question a suspected soldier, what their rights are or how to obtain search authorizations.

By conducting the investigations, they free up top non-commissioned officers and commanders so that they may concentrate on other important tasks.

“We provide the first sergeants and commanders with a nice little package,” Archie said. “All they have to do is decide what the disciplinary actions will be ... if there is a negative outcome.”

The security force also worked with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Department and 101st Airborne Division’s intelligence department to put a stop to the stealing and selling of U.S. government property on the base.

The investigation started with a suspected local national selling illegal cell phones and alcohol on the base. That led to multiple arrests and the confiscation of over $200,000 worth of property and cash.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Samuel Manthey, with the 28th Security Forces Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., and Senior Airman Todd Conway, 151st Security Forces Squadron, Utah Air National Guard, check ID cards at the Post Exchange on Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit, Iraq. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo

Staff Sgt. Chad Cook, 28th Security Forces Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. checks the identification of a driver on Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit, Iraq. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo

“The break-up of the ring of people, who were stealing from the government and in essence the American people, was the biggest thing we’ve done on our six month rotation,” Archie said.

These are just a few things the Air Forces Security Forces have done since the middle of January 2006. Their six-month tour of duty ends in the coming weeks.

“Being part of Speicher’s security force is a gratifying part of my military career,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Brunt, Det. 1, 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Utah Air National Guard. “I’m looking forward to getting back home but it’s been great, being part of Iraq’s rebuilding process — even if it is, in an indirect way.”

[SandRat]

They used to be called APs now they are SPs

[darkwing104]

Cool! I was stationed at Ellsworth in the early 80's. Glad to the SP's doing thier job so well.

[AirForce-TechSgt]

The MK19 is a 40MM grenade launcher, not a machine gun.

[Dumpster Baby]

They used to be called APs now they are SPs

That reminds me of something I haven't heard or thought about since the late 60's. A friend dodged VN by joining the Air Force Reserve, and he said they were called Sky Pigs.