Military

39th Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (USAFENS) -- In preparation for an upcoming surety inspection, the 39th Security Forces Squadron held a recapture and recovery exercise April 17 at a protective aircraft shelter on the flightline.

The exercise scenario was that hostile forces were inside a Protective Aircraft Shelter and were attempting to take over resources stored inside. To be successful, security forces had to successfully go inside the PAS and take out the hostile force, who in this case was Tech. Sgt. Gary Palmer, 39th SFS flight chief.

"We have to make our way in with all available force, speed, surprise and violence of action," Sergeant Palmer said.

During the initial response, security forces practiced a "15 in 5," which means 15 security forces members needed to respond in five minutes or less after the initial notification. They also responded with a "30 in 30." 

Tech. Sgt. Brent Molnar, 39th SFS superintendent of standardization and training, said it was important to accomplish this exercise due to recent higher-headquarters changes in procedures.

"This new requirement has made us look at retaking the resources in a whole new light.  We feel confident this procedure will not only ensure success against anyone dumb enough to attack us, but impress the inspectors as well," he said.

Once notified, security forces secured the area, donned their chemical protective gear, broke into the structure, entered the occupied PAS and took down the intruder in record time.

During the debriefing after the exercise, the security forces troops were told they took back the PAS in only 15 minutes - "the best they've seen here."

"There's not a higher priority that security forces has to protect," said Capt. James Hodges, 39th SFS operations officer. "All of you were looking and working as a team - I'm real pleased."

-- USAFENS --