Security Forces – always ready

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Randahl J. Jenson
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  They stand guard through rain, wind and blistering heat. They watch the gate 24/7. Recently, they were called to serve over a holiday - and they didn't bat an eye.

The defenders from the 49th Security Forces Squadron are a crucial part of many military operations.

This is especially true when the Air Force faces unexpected adversity like it did over the Thanksgiving holiday when an F-16 pilot had to eject from his aircraft. The pilot walked away unscathed, but the pancake of what used to be an F-16 Fighting Falcon lay across an open field Northwest of Salinas Peak.

Security Forces, along with several other agencies, arrived at the crash scene in the first wave of personnel.

"The first thing we did was go out and inspect the crash scene," said Staff Sgt. Aaron Calzada, on-scene SF team leader. "We checked how big the area was and determined how much ground we had to cover."

After creating a 100-meter perimeter around the crash site, SF personnel created a parking plan and continued to track an entry control point throughout the night, making sure that no unauthorized personnel entered the crash area. Eight SF members shared around the clock duty, working shifts between standing guard and napping in the reclined seats of their truck.

While they may have not planned on having Meals Ready to Eat for their Thanksgiving dinner, the defenders from the 49th SFS are always ready to serve.

"It definitely interrupted my Thanksgiving plans," said Senior Airman David Contreras, a SF field operative. "But that's a part of being in the military and in Security Forces. We always have to be on our toes - ready to do our best and work with what we have."