301 FW Defenders sharpen skills

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William Downs
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The 301st Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron engage in a field training exercise Saturday afternoon, March 6, 2021, performing walkthroughs of shoot, move, communicate and fire team movements.

As the Security Forces Airmen continue to maintain readiness, they have learned to adapt and advance in various austere conditions — including a COVID environment.

“Our Defenders have and continue to be adaptable and resilient”, said 301 FW SFS Commander Lt. Col. Anthony Carter. “Watching the squadron come up with creative training ideas and then implementing them in a safe manner has been rewarding to watch and something we must continue to do.”

Realistic field training reinforces learned fundamentals until maneuvers become instinctual. SFS Airmen must be able to perform under pressure, think critically and apply their training to match the levels needed in any stressful environment. 301 FW SFS Unit Deployment Manager Master Sgt. John Kuhn shared how training for any situation builds teamwork defenders need.

Kuhn said, “These training exercises help us get used to working together and communicating as a unit, especially while using weapons, although we didn’t used live weapons today. Getting those repetitions in and working as a team, creates cohesion and a realistic training environment. It ensures when the time comes for any defender to do what they have to do in the real world, they are ready to go.”

The SFS’s mission is to protect, defend and fight. Airmen must learn how to assess any situation, maneuver to or away from a threat and communicate those movements with their various team members so threats can be neutralized, or objectives can be met effectively and in a highly coordinated fashion.

301 FW SFS Fire Team Member Staff Sgt. Vincente Villarreal explains the importance of Airman using every available skill in order to achieve mission success.

“When some join the military, many think of the general fighting principles such as defending and protecting, and I think security forces brings a lot of that together. We protect assets, people, and defend the base,” said Villareal. “It’s not always about force. Problem solving, critical thinking, prevention and emotional intelligence are just as important for us to effectively serve.”

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