Joint Force--Air Force, Navy combine for security mission

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Williams
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis-St. Paul --  "Fall in!" came the command from Tech. Sgt. David Hoover, 934th Security Forces Squadron, as 11 fully-armed "cops" stood at full attention for roll call during a recent guard mount Feb 7. Among them were five U.S. Navy Masters at Arms training and working alongside their Air Force colleagues. 

The joint training was the idea of Lt. Ryan Metzler, Navy Reserve Security Forces, Rota, Spain commanding officer. Realizing the need for his young sailors to gain needed experience before their annual tours, he contacted Capt. Leo Moreno, 934th SFS operations officer, and proposed joint training. 

"All elements here mirror our active duty mission," Lieutenant Metzler said. "Rota [Air Base], Spain has an Air Force detachment that we work with, and everything we do is designed to make my guys better when they deploy. Captain Moreno has a pool of reservists to depend on if needed and we have a trust factor already built up. So far, everything fits very well." 

Since October 2008, Navy reservists have augmented Air Force Security Forces during regular shifts for real world experience during half the drill weekend each month, while using the other half for classroom training.
"They're cops, just like we are, but they don't get the opportunities to get operational experience except for their annual tour," said Captain Moreno. "Here, they get their experience and we get a source of augmentees. We get to help out some reservists and they get training. It's all good." 

"They go to the same security forces academy that we do, but also have specialized master at arms training," he added. "Since they are working on an Air Force installation, we need to make sure Air Force standards are maintained. I hope that eventually we can do some operational and law enforcement exercises with the extra manpower, but we'll see what happens in the future." 

Master at Arms 3rd Class Brice Powers was one of the first MAs to participate and said that learning the difference in ranks and command structures between the two units is a benefit to this training program.
"The loading procedures and how the Air Force carries the weapon is a little different and it took a little getting used to doing it their way," said Powers. "We received a lot of good training and we appreciate the Air Force a lot more." 

"It's a really good experience working with a lot of great people and learning new things. I'm sure they say the same about us. I just wish all the Navy people on this base could have the experience working with their Air Force counterparts," Powers added.
Lieutenant Metzler and Captain Moreno believe that this is the first time that Navy Reserve Master at Arms have joined with Security Forces AGRs for on the job training.
Lieutenant Metzler concluded, "This teaches the different services to work together. Any time we actually deploy together, we do it jointly. We want to make sure our younger guys are not green, but the only way you get experience in standing up on post for a full shift is by doing it. In this regard, I believe we're pioneers."