56th Security Forces named Air Force best

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stephen Delgado
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  It was a very good year was the title of one of the late Frank Sinatra's biggest hit songs. 

The title would be appropriate for the 56th Security Forces Squadron as they captured the Air Force Outstanding Security Forces (medium) Unit award for 2008. A medium unit consists of 126 to 230 permanent and authorized personnel. 

However, that was the crowning achievement in a year filled with awards. The unit received 67 other awards and accolades, which included Connie Ali being awarded the Air Education Training Command, Spirit of Hope Award. 

"We want everyone to know it's a team effort," Maj. Michael Borders Jr., 56th SFS commander said. "It is vital to have the support of the families and the base population to be effective. Whenever anyone comes to Luke, the first person they meet is the gate guard." 

There are a plethora of variables that are involved in making a security forces unit work at a maximum level of effectiveness, according to Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Wilson, 56th SFS superintendent. 

One of the key components of the success of the 56th SFS is molding the many diverse elements that make up the squadron into a force that works well together and never loses sight of the goals and the mission, Chief Wilson said. 

Major Borders has credited Chief Wilson with creating a template for AETC security forces squadrons. 

"We are doing things at Luke that are unique and are working well," he said. 

The 56th SFS has a diverse makeup consisting of military, civilian guards and police officers and individual mobilization augmentees. The civilians are union members, which can present unique challenges, according to Chief Wilson. 

"One of the key ways we have built good camaraderie is by having eight-hour shifts for everyone," he said. "Many units have military members working 12-hour shifts, which can hurt morale. We are a family and when we have functions such as Christmas parties or cookouts everyone is invited. We realize how important it is to treat everyone well and realize everyone is different. 

"Currently, the 56th SFS has 82 civilian guards and 10 police officers to complement 158 military members, 35 IMAs and three permanent civilian personnel. All of the guards and police officers are temporary employees, which presents the challenge of keeping them on board. The Air Force is working to put these people on a permanent basis. All of the guards are scheduled to become police officers within a year." 

Moreover, another challenge is constant deployments. 

"We just welcomed back 35 people who had deployed to various locations in southwest and south central Asia," Chief Wilson said. 

As with any first-class operation, training is a high priority. 

"The most important aspect of training is that it incorporates real-life scenarios that can be applied in combat or day-to-day law enforcement," Chief Wilson said. "We don't want training for the sake of filling holes, but we want it to count. It is vital that all of our training builds muscle memory, so when the time comes when there is a real-life situation, a person is prepared and knows what to do. Good training builds confidence. CrossFit has been a tremendous asset to our training program. We don't do our Airmen any good if we don't train them properly." 

Major Borders and Chief Wilson agreed that people make their perspective jobs worthwhile and both men often spend more than 60 hours each a week at their jobs.
Besides all of his duties with the 56th SFS, Chief Wilson is the president of the Chief's group and leads all non-PME professional development. He also works closely with Focus 56 and Top 3. 

In all, Major Borders said he was happy to receive all of the awards in 2008, but he said he'd really be thrilled to receive the best SFS award in 2009 because, in addition to all of the regular duties and challenges, there is an air show and a unit compliance inspection this year. 

"I feel 2009 is our year," he said.