CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
If you were to ask a member of Team Charleston, "What do the cops do here on base?" you would probably hear them say, "Check IDs and lurk in their police cars around every corner."
The team member you asked would be right, but he would only be describing the tip of the iceberg.
Charleston AFB security forces defenders serve in roles ranging from security and anti-terrorism, to small arms training, affecting the entire team every day.
A security forces patrolman is likely the most familiar face when it comes to installation security. Contrary to common belief, patrolmen do not have a supernatural "sixth sense" for detecting vehicle cell phone use violations. They are the highly trained and motivated defenders ready to defeat a hostile attack on aircraft or to make sure the children of Team Charleston are seen safely to school. They are often the first to the scene of an emergency and are the backbone of our security. While our patrolmen defend the base interior, our gate guards are the vigilant sentries who, day and night, look outwards. The same Airmen who check IDs and deliver a crisp salute, are also ready at a moment's notice to deploy tire shredders and a barrier device to prevent a hostile vehicle from entering our base. Other gates defenders scan every commercial vehicle entering our installation for contraband. They ensure anything from drugs to explosives to do not have a chance to threaten our team members and our families. The two groups of Airmen described so far are the most visual security forces members, but what about the iceberg concept mentioned earlier?
Defenders influence every part of the Charleston mission and every team member, every day. The 437th Security Forces Squadron is composed of a myriad of sections to include: Raven flyaway security teams protecting our C-17s in potentially threatening locales around the globe; combat arms instructors training all base personnel in the use of small arms; members providing pass and ID services; K-9 handlers and their drug and explosives detecting dogs; detectives investigating crimes committed against members of Team Charleston; and an active plans and programs section involved in all aspects of security on the base.
All of these sections, serve us, but they are not all active duty. The security forces squadron deploys about half of its active-duty defenders every year.
Civilians and reservists serve proudly and professionally to ensure the active-duty deployment tempo does not hurt our security and service here at Charleston. Civilians serve as investigators in plans and programs, police services and as patrol officers. Also, more than 50 reservists are trained defenders from backgrounds as diverse as medical technicians to aircraft loadmasters.
Frequently, the "cops" are mistakenly identified only as patrolmen and guards.
Remember, they are the team members training your squadron in the expeditionary ground combat skills course, providing presidential K-9 security and protecting our C-17s and families both at Charleston AFB and in deployed locations on every continent of the world.
So, next time you see a defender on base, remember they are part of a squadron that is "ready, willing, and able" to protect and serve Team Charleston around the clock and around the globe. Because of them you can rest easy.