An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Defenders participate in advanced training at the USAF EC

  • Published
  • By Capt. Matthew Chism
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  U.S. Air Force Security Forces Airmen from 13 different locations converged on the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center to participate in a five day advanced weapons and tactics course April 13.

"Events in the real world rarely follow a structured step-by-step approach, they are fluid scenarios that can change dynamically, with little to no warning," said Senior Master Sgt. Ted Martin, Air Mobility Command Security Forces training manager. "Our intent with this training event is to put our Defenders into stressful, fluid, and dynamic situations, where the actions of the airman and/or the adversary can change the outcome of the scenario."

Participants trained in a number of progressive areas including weapon retention, force on force, and live fire exercises. The training course is a part of the larger AMC Weapons and Tactics initiative which is charged to increase the proficiency of Air Force Defenders from the Total Force.

"They are long days but the training is very valuable," said Senior Airman Kristine Glenn, 421st Combat Training Squadron instructor. "In this course we are learning lots of techniques that give us options in different situations."

"The previous classes I have had were good because they taught you from the book, they gave me a foundation," Glenn said. "In this class the instructors are teaching us how to expand on those skills and develop some new ones to overcome challenges."

The AMC sponsored course, taught by Progressive Combat Solutions instructors, focused on improving a broad array of weapons and tactics skills that can be applied to any hostile situation Airmen might encounter.

Glenn said that she expects the impact of the course to go well beyond the demands of being a Defender.

"This training is helping to prepare us as cops, but it's not just military training," Glenn said. "It's something that is going to help me protect myself and others for the rest of my life."

"Our expectation is that these Airmen will seed the force and increase the capabilities of all Defenders in their assigned units," said Master Sgt. Pete Maraia, AMC Security Forces Training non-commissioned officer in charge. "We expect these Airmen to take the principles they have learned back to their units and incorporate them into as many facets of their operational mission and training as possible."

The 50 Defenders attending the course were specifically chosen because they are currently in training positions in their squadrons or are scheduled to fill one soon.

"Selecting these individuals allows this skill set to be passed on to the greatest extent possible," Maraia said. "One squadron trainer has the potential to pass these skills to hundreds of fellow Defenders."

Tech Sgt. Scott Benford, 421st CTS Phoenix Raven course director and point of contact for the training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, completed the course last year and was excited to be a part of the team expanding the reach of the material.

"It was a lot of tactics and techniques that we don't normally do in Security Forces," Benford said. "We were shown things that you can put your own flavor on and still meet the objective."

When Benford returned from the training he began looking for opportunities to implement some of the new skills from the advanced training into the Phoenix Raven course that he manages. The course develops Joint service members dedicated to provide security for aircraft transiting high terrorist and criminal threat areas.

"It gives them more tools to add to their toolbelt for use when they go downrange on missions," Benford said. "It makes them more dynamic and more flexible Defenders."

"Advanced training, such as the AMC Weapons and Tactics initiative, enables our Defenders to maneuver and operate effectively within the full spectrum of operations and prepares them to defend airpower in the future operating environment," Martin said. "Strong, well-trained, adaptable Defenders enable Rapid Global Mobility and ensure that the Air Force achieves its vision of Global Vigilance, Reach and Power."