SFS conducts high-profile training

  • Published
  • By Stephen Delgado
  • Thunderbolt staff writer
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  February has been a busy month for the 56th Security Forces Squadron. Shoot, move and communicate training was conducted Feb. 3 and an active-shooter crisis response exercise took place Feb. 15 and 16.

Each exercise had different missions.

"The primary mission of the shoot, move and communicate course was to have all Airmen assigned to security forces be capable of engaging any type of threat during urban operations," said Staff Sgt. Tony Williams, SMC & ASCR trainer. "All Airmen must display a complete understanding of transitions, communication and engaging on the move.

"The active-shooter crisis response training is to prepare Airmen to respond to incidents on base involving a hostile person or terrorist threatening civilians in a public area. Our Airmen must be able to respond using all the tactics they are trained with and to neutralize the treat with minimum civilian casualties."

The SMC exercise was held at the Auxiliary Field in Florence, the ASCR exercise was held at the SFS training grounds and the scenario-based training was held at the Phoenix Tactical Village, which the Phoenix Police Department allows security forces to use free of charge.

The Feb. 3 SMC exercise involved 20 people and is training that is required at least once per year, according to Sergeant Williams.

"Even though this training is an annual requirement, many Airmen go through the course multiple times every year as the training is evolving and changing," he said.

The ASCR training requires double the personnel and is accomplished in February and August.

"This training is conducted by the 56th Security Forces training section and is a two-to-three-day course, depending on unit manning and demands, with half of the training conducted in the classroom and the other half at a shoot house that authorizes dye marking cartridges," he said.  "These cartridges mirror the same capabilities of live ammunition. The actual substance resembles that of a paintball to simulate ASCR scenarios."

Both training sessions had a number of objectives and goals, and Sergeant Williams said they were accomplished. 

"Our Airmen are fully capable of responding to any crisis we may have at Luke Air Force Base. The goal is to always continue to improve and learn from past experiences or training whether good or bad. The only way to learn is to train. Consistent and proper training will pay large dividends if a real-world event happens. If training continuously grows and prepares Airmen for the next large event, then it can be considered successful."

In all, Dustin Manning, 56th SFS training section chief, wasn't just happy about the outcome of the training, but he had high praise for the staff that helped conduct the training.

"Master Sgt. Adam Greene, 56th SFS individual mobilization augmentee; Staff Sgt. Tony Williams, 56th SFS SMC and ASCR trainer and unit scheduler; Staff Sgt. John Haines, training NCO-in charge; Staff Sgt. Michael Diciccio, lead trainer and Senior Airman Stephanie Harp, unit training manager; did an excellent job and played a large role in the success of the mission," he said.