S4, clearing house of SFS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marcy Copeland
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Those who have deployed in a joint tasking with the Army may have learned the Army uses a single letter and a number to identify a specific duty. In 1997, when security police changed to security forces, the duty identification system used by the Army was adopted. S4 means logistics or supply. Request for new supplies and replacement equipment is made to S4.

The S4 section is part of the 56th Security Forces Squadron and currently has five jobs it performs: unit deployment manager, combat arms training and maintenance, vehicle control, resource advisor, and supply and logistics.

Planned logistical movement of equipment and personnel, maintenance of ammunition supply and unit property books are the responsibility of S4. Additionally, the weapons qualifications of the entire fighter wing, Guard, Reserve, Marine and Navy tenant units is the responsibility of S4.

"We are the main customer service section to all security forces, Defense Department police, individual mobilization augmentees and wing augmentees," said Matthew Owen, 56th SFS resource advisor.

The CATM is responsible for providing 11 weapon system qualifications to more than 8,000 personnel and maintaining the serviceability of more than 1,700 ground weapons valued at $113,000. The accountability, control and distribution of 472,000 rounds of training, operational and munitions assets are another major duty of CATM. Without CATM at Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan AFB would be the only base in the area qualified to certify personnel in weapons training, making each person deployment ready. CATM works closely with the 56th Fighter Wing Safety Office to ensure that all safety requirements are met and exceeded.

"We have about 2,500 personnel that we train a year, and it isn't limited to Air Force," said Staff Sgt. Luis Valentin, 56th SFS, combat arms NCO in charge. "Anybody who has an annual or deployment certification, permanent change of station or even a TDY has to come through CATM. We train personnel to be battle ready."

Vehicle control, UDM and logistics are located off-base. It is the only warehouse in the immediate area of the base that meets the storage needs to house the $8 million in equipment that is maintained by S4.

The logistics section eases the work load for the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron when it comes to accountability, maintenance and storage of duty and deployment gear.

Staff Sgt. Chris Copeland, 56th SFS, vehicle control NCO, is responsible for 29 vehicles that are used 24/7. The VCNCO works closely with the vehicle maintenance flight in the 56th LRS to ensure vehicles are available for the 56th SFS to complete their mission. The constant use of vehicles means more servicing, repairs and normal maintenance than any other squadron.

Keith Brown, 56th SFS UDM, works constantly with the 56th Medical Group installation deployment office, and the 56th LRS, along with several other agencies to meet deployment requirements. Staff Sgt. Derek Arnold, 56th SFS supply and logistics NCO, oversees the logistics section, which plans the movement of equipment and personnel for SFS.

Owen works with the 56th Comptroller Squadron, 56th Contracting Squadron and 56th Civil Engineer Squadron to find ways to get things repaired or purchase new contract items to help SFS flights provide base security and law enforcement.

"The sections I oversee are so diverse and each one directly supports our personnel on flights and deployments throughout the world," said Master Sgt. Eric Gray, 56th SFS superintendent. "Any job in which I can make a difference in the lives of the Airmen in my unit is a job worth having."

Although the majority of S4 is located off-base, their impact on base is felt by every person who comes through Luke's gates.