• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Army Guard troops support security forces

Released: Feb. 20, 2003

By Airman 1st Class Jason Piatek 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (ACCNS) - Army National Guard troops have temporarily "crossed into the blue" in support of Ellsworth's security forces.

Eighty-one soldiers from the Army National Guard's 665th Maintenance Company from Mitchell, S.D., will be working alongside Ellsworth's security forces as part of a Department of Defense initiative, said Maj. Gregory Reese, the 28th Security Forces Squadron commander.

The soldiers are from four detachments throughout South Dakota as part of a unit mobilization directed by the Fifth Army, said Army Capt. Deb Bartunek, 665th Maintenance Company commander.

"Their mission is to provide enhancement for the security forces. They'll be integrated with the security forces and (performing) all duties the security police do," Captain Bartunek said.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Air Force security forces have been deployed so heavily that the Air Force Reserve had to be mobilized to provide relief. The Reservists have been called up for 18 months, pressing the limits of their "civilian soldier" titles, Captain Bartunek said.

"The Secretary of Defense decided the Army National Guard was a logical choice to replenish the Air Force's security forces," she said.

This DOD initiative is being implemented at all stateside Air Force bases, and in Puerto Rico, Major Reese said.

This is "history in the making," he said. It's the first time the Air Force and the Army National Guard have integrated units on this scale.

Major Reese said this order was handed down mainly to enable the demobilization of the Air Force security forces Reserve component.

"They've basically reset the Reserve personnel so they can deploy forward, if needed," he said. "If we get into a further crisis, we have a surge capability."

The soldiers' initial tour is one year, but it could last as long as two, Captain Bartunek said.

She said she feels confident the Army troops will be prepared to perform their mission.

"We do a lot of force-protection training and homeland security training throughout the year, so some of this they've already done, and they'll pick it up pretty quickly," Captain Bartunek said.

At Ellsworth, the augmentees have received five days of initial qualification training from 28th SFS instructors, but their on-the-job training will continue for months until they undergo their initial standardization evaluation, Major Reese said.

"We're impressed with the professionalism of the security forces instructors and with how welcome they made us feel," said Army Sgt. Sheila Twite, a 665th Maintenance Company recruiting and retention NCO.

"Where there (were) two Air Force security forces troops, there will be an Army and Air Force troop (now)," Major Reese said. "Since they are posted as security forces personnel, they will have the same authority to enforce the law and apprehend as their Air Force counterparts.

"Our Army and Air Force team will do the best we possibly can to minimize the disruption and turbulence. But there's going to be a learning curve and a need for patience," he said.