Joint Base Charleston senior airman, Baltimore City native, protects personnel, assets at Southwest Asia base

Senior Airman Michael Better, security forces journeyman with the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, watches over a checkpoint near the flightline at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on March 27, 2010. As a security forces Airman, Airman Better supports all security and force protection efforts for a deployed wing of more than 1,900 people and for billions of dollars worth of Air Force equipment and assets. He is deployed from the 628th Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., and his hometown is Baltimore City, Md. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol/Released)

Joint Base Charleston senior airman, Baltimore City native, protects personnel, assets at Southwest Asia base

Joint Base Charleston Airman protects personnel, assets at Southwest Asia base

Published April 2, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Michael Better is a security forces journeyman with the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at a non-disclosed location here.

Airman Better is deployed from the 628th Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., and his hometown is Baltimore City, Md.

As a security forces Airman, Airman better supports all security and force protection efforts for a deployed wing of more than 1,900 people and for billions of dollars worth of Air Force equipment and assets.

Security forces Airmen like Airman Better receive a host of specialized training to complete their deployed mission. According to his Air Force job description, Airman Better is required to be able to lead, manage, supervise and perform force protection duties to include the use of deadly force to protect personnel and resources. He's also required to perform air base defense functions contributing to the force protection mission which includes controlling and securing terrain inside and outside military installations.

In addition to doing his job of defending personnel, equipment and resources from hostile forces, security forces members like Airman Better are capable of operating in various field environments and can perform individual and team patrol movements. Those movements include mounted and dismounted patrols, tactical drills, battle procedures, convoys, military operations other than war, antiterrorism duties and other special duties, according to the official job description.

Furthermore, security forces are able to operate communications equipment, vehicles, intrusion detection equipment, crew-served weapons and other special purpose equipment. As first responders, they can also apply self-aid buddy care and other life-saving procedures at accident and disaster scenes. With law enforcement, security forces are capable to apprehend and detain suspects, search persons and property, secures crime and incident scenes, and collect, seize and preserve evidence.

The 380th ESFS is a sub-unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.