Air Force watchdog

  • Published
  • By SSgt Kevin Tomko and Thomas Schmidt
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  Working 12-hour shifts in hostile environments, enduring 100-plus degree temperatures with windstorms whipping sand against their faces like coarse sandpaper, driving critical vehicle convoys across unrelenting, barren desert and guarding multi-million dollar aircraft on desolate airstrips. 

Who are these warriors? You may have guessed - the 927th Security Forces Squadron, a dedicated group of fearless, combat ready Airmen, both men and women, who have taken the brunt of the Global War on Terror by providing fire teams to southwest Asia for the past six years. 

Danger in the desert is common place as evidenced by two squadron Airmen receiving medals for engaging enemy insurgents and one was awarded a purple heart in recognition of an unfortunate and potentially fatal encounter with an uncaring improvised explosive device (IED). 

The squadron has reverted from a force that would previously deploy to conduct installation and flight line patrols to one that now carries out dangerous convoy operations, conducts off-base security patrols in unfriendly territory and performs detainee operations at military strongholds around the world. 

Senior Airman Rachel Somogie, recently returned from a four month deployment in Kirkuk, Iraq, where she patrolled airfields and stood guard tower duty. She voluntarily deployed when another Airmen had to return home expectedly  to attend to a personal matter. 

"We got rocketed and mortared pretty much every day," she said. "I was really never in direct fear for my life, though." 

She said the guard towers for the base are only about 100 meters from the city and often received gunfire. 

"Most of the casualties were received by the Army since they did all their patrols off base," said Airman Somogie. 

This is not the security forces we have come know in years past. Duties have dramatically expanded in the last decade. 

Normally, security forces personnel are the first line of defense and it is their job to maintain the rule of law and order on Air Force installations. All police activities associated with a base - securing the base perimeter, being a dog handler, ensuring the safety of weapons, training dog teams in canine law enforcement control and safeguarding firearms, ammunition and equipment. As one may imagine, this undermanned career field often leads to a civilian job as police officers, prison guards or other law enforcement positions. 

When the 45-member squadron is not deployed, individuals may be seen performing upgrade training and teaming with the Air National Guard security force at Selfridge ANG Base to provide base security. 

Training is not easy as all new security forces personnel undergo a 65-day training course at Air Force Security Forces Academy, Lackland Air Force Base, where they learn basic military police functions, including missile security, convoy actions, capture and recovery of nuclear weapons, law enforcement and directing traffic. The course also teaches non lethal tactics, such as the proper use of pepper spray and applying convincing pressure to sensitive body parts. 

"In recent years we've had a lot of young people come into security forces with non-prior service," said Senior Master Sgt. William Lagore (USAFR ret.) and current civilian employee. "Still, the senior-level members have taken them in, trained them, and we have a fine group of people here."