Security Forces sacrifices remembered

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Eugene Bird
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AFB, Okla. --  Fitness and awareness activities marked national Police Week at Altus Air Force base this week. 

Even after 13-hour work days protecting the people and resources on base, several members of Security Forces readily volunteered time to teach and hold entertaining demonstrations of what their work entails.

'Absolutely amazing' 

"Many troops are on their third tour in the Middle East within the last couple of years. These troops do a thankless job day in and day out without complaint, both at home and abroad. Yet, it is absolutely amazing to see their motivation when a tasking comes up, it is almost a fight between troops to get onto a deployment," said Master Sgt. Keith Hewgley, 97th SFS operations superintendent. 

"It is a difficult job for them to transition smoothly between warfighting and law enforcement," he said.

Why the sacrifice? 

"It's a hard job, not knowing when you'll be called or how long you'll be gone," said Senior Airman Valerie Ellis. 

Fellow Police Week organizer Staff Sgt. Leah O'Neill elaborated, "They are working long days, often not knowing how soon their next deployment will be, but they always step up. It's a physically and emotionally demanding job. A lot of our members have young children." 

So why do they do it? 

Sergeant O'Neill believes patriotism inspires them. 

"It's the challenge. The thought of fighters flying overhead, fighting the enemy, the physical challenge of doing all the things we are trained to do. You are proud to be the one standing in full 'battle rattle' for 15 hours. Success depends on the amount of heart you put into it. You are proud to be that person, the Security Forces," she said. 

"My daughter is understanding. My husband and I are both deploying at the same time," said Staff Sgt. O'Neill. 

"When traffic at the gate is backed up, when one is pulled over or not allowed to go into a building, remember it is not anything personal. We're not doing it to make anyone mad. People are often angry (with us), but should understand that we're charged with protecting the people and resources of a military installation. We want to make certain they are safe," said Airman Ellis.