SFS team takes aim at competition

  • Published
  • By Kevin Chandler
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Author Jim Rohn said, "Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals."

The fundamentals are just what a team of Security Forces Airmen have in their sights as they train for the 2009 Air Mobility Command Airlift Rodeo at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. next month.

The squad is preparing for events testing combat endurance, combat weapons and combat tactics.

"We don't know many specifics about the scenarios we will encounter," said Master Sgt. Daniel Kille, Security Forces rodeo team leader, "but as long as our fundamentals are sound, we should be okay."

The Altus team will be tested in several areas at rodeo. After donning their gas masks, the Airmen will need to fire accurately to complete the combat weapons course. They will also have to successfully navigate a daunting obstacle course and a tactical scenario.

While the different events require a wide array of skills, there are some aspects of training that are practiced every day.

"There is a lot of running," said Senior Airman Jensen Caldwell. "We usually run two to three miles to the (firing) range then engage targets at the range. Firing under stress is totally different," he explained.

The team also uses nearby Quartz Mountain for uphill sprints and ruck marches to train for the rodeo obstacle course and improve their physical conditioning to avoid tiring during the taxing event.

Additionally, the cadre trains regularly on job-specific skills such as clearing buildings and extracting hostages. Using the old Battlefield Deployment Training site, Sergeant Kille and his team run urban combat scenarios using paint-tipped rounds to give the training a sense of reality. Focusing on developing good communication and tactical fundamentals, the group sits down after a scenario is complete to evaluate their performance and consistently improve.

"It's a great opportunity to hone our skills," said Senior Airman Christopher LaBerge.

Such intense training will pay dividends long after the rodeo competition is over. Security Forces Airmen deploy overseas regularly, filling a variety of mission roles. Perimeter security, identification checks at entry control points, convoys between forward operating bases and escorting personnel are just some of the essential tasks these Airmen perform in their deployed locations.

As Sergeant Kille explained, "it all depends on what the Air Force needs us to do when they ship us out." 

With such a gamut of responsibilities, developing a wide set of skills is crucial to success. Training for next month's competition helps members sharpen those skills.

"Everything we do out here directly correlates to what we do downrange," said Airman Caldwell.