Augmentees fill the gap for Security Forces

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Angelique Perez
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Through hot days and long hours, whether they volunteer or are directed to serve, augmentees put their jobs on hold to provide Security Forces with the manpower needed to keep Kadena safe. 

Now more than ever, augmentees are being called upon to fill the gaps in Security Forces' manpower, gaps due in large part to deployments all over the world. 

Staff Sergeant Louis Salcido, 18th Security Forces Squadron Training and Augmentee Program Manager, said the augmentees help them meet their manning requirements. 

"We have the augmentee program because we need personnel," he said. "We don't have enough Security Forces here to support our different missions. Our cops are deploying everywhere around the world, so that leaves a void to fill in order to accomplish the mission here at Kadena." 

The 18th SFS is increasing the size of its augmentee pool due to increased manning requirements and an increase in deployment taskings; also, to help support local exercises and inspections, such as the upcoming Unit Compliance Inspection. 

Approximately 30-35 new augmentees go through the training class, which is usually held once a month, though it has been increased to twice a month to match increased requirements. 

"In the training program we train non-Security Forces personnel to come work with us," the sergeant said. "We go through our basic training, show them the basic stuff that Security Forces does, as in guardmount procedures, apprehending someone, searching and handcuffing and other duties that we do as Security Forces." 

The class has evolved into a set 3-day course consisting of weapons firing, classroom instruction of SF responsibilities, and hands-on training made up of searching, handcuffing, and challenging individuals and vehicles. 

Augmentee duties are almost identical to those of a security forces member: they work the gates, go on patrols as alphas, and work the flightline. 

"A typical duty day for an augmentee is the same as it is for us," Sgt. Salcido said. "They show up either at 0430 in the morning or 1630 at night and come in and receive their weapon and get armed up, get their information at guardmount, and then post out. Once they get there is when their 12 hours start. They do their 12 hours and by the time they get back you're looking at a 14- to 15-hour day. It's a pretty long day." 

Airman 1st Class Jeffrey Russell, an 18th Comptroller Squadron Customer Service Technician, is a veteran augmentee in the middle of his fifth 90-day cycle with the SFS. He says it's practically become a second job and he's proud to do it.

"We do pretty much everything that the cops do," he said. "They train us to be as much of a cop as possible without actually wearing the beret and the badge. We use the same techniques they use and we fall under the same guidelines, rules, and jurisdictions as a cop. We work side-by-side with them - we're kind of an extended family." 

Airman Russell said the experience has been a unique one and has given him insight into what a normal SFS member has to do on a day-to-day basis. He added that it's helped him realize that they provide a service and a sense of security that a lot of people take for granted. 

"It's a tough job, and you must really have a true passion for it," said the airman. "Just being here for a month and a half is pretty tough; it builds you, it builds your character, and it builds your morale." 

He said his squadron is coping without him because they understand that though everyone has manning shortfalls, SFS is one of the critically undermanned career fields that simply must meet its force requirements. 

"Whether we like doing it or not, we have to understand it and support it," the airman said. "We have to understand the wing mission and this is what we need to accomplish that goal. We try to look at it in a positive way."

Airman Russell said his favorite part about being a SFS augmentee is having the opportunity to see parts of the base he's never seen before, along with the weapons training. 

"I've been able to go out on the flightline and check out a lot of new airplanes, jets, resources, and a lot of areas that - since I work in an office - I've never been able to see before," he said. "Also the weapons training has been great, I got to qualify on the M-9 pistol and OC Pepperspray, something that a normal augmentee would never get a chance to do." 

Sergeant Salcido said the program is important and it gives the augmentees a sense of pride knowing they are protecting the base and protecting the families that live on it.
Senior Airman Unique Coston, a member of the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron, said she has been enjoying her time as an augmentee. 

"It's awesome!" she said. "I'm not used to doing ground operations and it's a great opportunity to see another side of the Air Force."