COPS AFGHANISTAN: Westover's security forces save lives, move mountains

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexander Brown
  • 439th AWPA
WESTOVER, Mass. --  More than a dozen Westover security forces Airmen loaded on a plane, stowed their gear, and calmly took their seats.

They were focused on deploying to Afghanistan for a unique mission to assist the U.S. Army as Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airman that required hand-picked personnel to carry out military police duties.

"I was both anxious and excited," said Senior Airman Bryan Healy, a 439th Security Forces team member. "I have wanted to deploy and do my part since I joined the Air Force, and I knew this was an opportunity to put all of my training to use and to contribute to the hard work and sacrifices of all those who have gone before me."

The team has been deployed since September to Afghanistan. By the end of the tour in early spring, the security forces members will come home in early spring with an impressive record: three quarterly award winners and eight recommendations from the Air Force's 466th Air Expeditionary Squadron to receive medals for selfless devotion to duty. If that wasn't enough, they have saved lives.

They rescued several people and put their training into practice when they treated victims who suffered from knife wounds and 107mm rocket attacks.

"They are a motivated group," said Capt. Bruce Lawler, 439th SFS operations officer. "They've done a stellar job."

While working in Afghanistan, they are tasked with some of the same security responsibilities they had at Westover including responding to car accidents, shoplifting at the base exchange, quelling disturbances and performing traffic enforcement. Other difficult tasks they conduct include guarding dignitaries, responding to explosions, conducting raids in enemy camps looking for contraband and IED-making materials, detaining prisoners , investigating crimes including larceny and murder, patrolling the wire for insurgents, and responding to the point of impact for every rocket and ground attack.

"When you're working long hours under stressful situations, you become very dependent on each other," said Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Kellam, security forces squad leader. "Our group has done heroic, brave things here while under fire from rocket attacks and ground attacks. We developed a bond with one another because of the nature of our work."

Despite their numerous accomplishments, the deployment has not been all good news: An explosion injured a member during a rocket attack and another member had to be brought home because of a family emergency. The injured Airman has made a full recovery and the Army has nominated him for multiple awards. As JET Airmen, security forces are tasked from both the Air Force and the U.S. Army because of their assignment as JET Airmen.

"We respond to rocket attacks, and suspicious packages," said Tech. Sgt. Donald Boulette, security forces member. "We perform security details for dignitaries and VIP's including generals, members of Congress, foreign heads of state, and celebrities."

While on missions, deployed police cope with extreme temperature changes from 110 degrees to freezing, flooding, sand storms, and working in a sandy environment.

"The temperature change is extreme," said Sergeant Kellam. "The air is constantly filled with dust daily. Sandstorms aren't that frequent, but the sand can affect operations both air and ground."

Security forces leadership said their presence was missed at Westover.

During the week there are no big staffing issues at Westover, Captain Lawler said. The UTA weekends are affected from the deployed supervisors. With their experience it also impacts the others sharing the increased workload with June's Operational Readiness Inspection. Even the civilian jobs are affected. Sergeant Kellam, who works as a Chicopee Police detective, is just one example of the vital civilian jobs put on hold by the Citizen Airmen who fight in Operation Enduring Freedom.

"From our youngest Airmen to the senior noncommissioned officers... the squad from Westover has been stellar the entire deployment," said Sergeant Kellam. "The reservists from Westover bring so much to the war here in Afghanistan because of their civilian and life experiences."