Preparing like it's the real thing

Published March 8, 2015
By Senior Airman Xavier Lockley
927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- This is the third of a four part series documenting members of the 927th Security Forces Squadron preparing for their upcoming deployment.

Expecting the unforeseen is an prospect for the members of the 927th Security Forces Squadron.

In a deployment environment, Airmen must be aware of what is occurring around them.

"Self-Aid and Buddy Care is very important, it can be all the difference of you saving a wingman or them dying," said Senior Airman Reginald Randall, 927th Security Forces Squadron SABC instructor. "SABC is useful because it not only saves lives, but it incorporates 'Service before Self' which is one of the Air Force's core values."

The Air Force's core values are one of its most prevalent strengths. Another strong suit is taking pride in training that is given to better overall skills.

Training is an integral part of any success and in a deployment atmosphere training is one thing that Airmen have to rely upon during situations of duress.

"The way that we train is to best simulate what type of injuries require what method of temporary treatment that the injured individual requires," said Randall. "We have to train ourselves as if the scenario is the real thing down range."

For some SABC is meeting an annual requirement for their Air Force career, and for others the training is just a constant refresher of just how to be prepared for anything.

"In my civilian job I am an electrician and very often do we have guys that get injuries while working that require SABC skills to be used," said Staff Sgt. Philip Stephens, 927 SFS journeyman. "I preach to the other members who do not have deployment experience that they need to be prepared all the time. I explain to them that I have my SABC gear with me even in my truck just because you never know what may happen and when, so if they keep that mentality then they will be better prepared when they deploy."

Unlike Stephens, Senior Airman Evan Rohde, 927 SFS team member is going on his first deployment, however he understands that SABC can provide him and the members of his group with much needed knowledge.

"Although I have not deployed before, I feel very prepared for what is to come," said Rohde. "I think now that we have completed this training I feel like I fully grasped the Air Force's perspective of why we do certain things in SABC. I learned a lot from the SABC training, in addition to the medical experience I already have with being a volunteer firefighter in the local area. The main thing I took away is that you can never practice too much, there is always something you can improve at, especially when it could potentially save someone's life."

Knowledge and experience can be gained from going on a deployment. Even more knowledge can be gained from the training before leaving.

"When dealing with SABC, the biggest thing to remember is getting comfortable with handling that situation under duress," said Randall. "When we are applying the principles of SABC on someone, it's imperative that we maintain our composure, there may be blood but we have to push past that and save our wingman because we don't leave them behind."