Flight provides proactive force around perimeter

Courtesy Photo | SOUTHWEST ASIA -- 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Viper Flight members Airman 1st Class Alex Dale, who is deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, looks over a berm that surrounds the base. The Viper Flight are in charge of guarding the base's perimeter. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

09.07.2006

Courtesy Story

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen
386th AEW PAO

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Vipers are known as agile snakes. They operate on their own and survive in the elements by being able to detect their enemy's movements.

Much the same as their reptilian name suggests, the Viper Flight of the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron perform these same tasks in defense of the base's outer perimeter.

The Vipers are one of five flights with the 386th ESFS and are made up of about 30 hand-selected Airmen. They are on the job 24/7 providing coverage of 116 square miles or 46,000 square acres of desert land surrounding the base.

"We patrol the outer perimeter of the base out to five kilometers and are a key part of the integrated base defense plan," said Master Sgt. Phil Landreth, NCOIC of Viper Flight. "We're out beyond the wire to intercept or deter any actions against the base."

The base perimeter is divided into four sections that are constantly manned by four different viper patrols. These two-man teams are out in the elements for 12 hours at a time.

In order to do their mission the Vipers are backed with a variety of equipment. Depending on the specific team, they'll be armed with a combination of weapons and have a kit that includes binoculars, compass, infrared thermal imager, map, night-vision goggles, range finder, spotlight and a Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver, known as the PLGR.

"This job really brings the best out in our troops," said Tech. Sgt. James Sanscrainte, Viper Flight day shift supervisor. "They get outside the wire, have a great responsibility and they take it very seriously."

Any security forces member can volunteer for Viper Flight. But depending on the number of candidates, the chosen few are selected by a certain criteria.

"We have to pick them on their maturity," said Sergeant Landreth, who is deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. "With ten per shift, basically turned loose off base, they have to be able to operate on their own and be professional. With the level of responsibility they are given, they have to be able to handle themselves in a professional manner. We want them to be aggressive, but not overly aggressive.

"Some of it is driven by their weapons qualifications," Sergeant Sanscrainte, who is deployed from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. "We're not any better than everybody else in the squadron, but we have to try and pick who we think would be the best fit."

The members of Viper Flight enjoy their mission tremendously.

"This is the best job without a doubt," said Airman 1st Class Alex Dale, a day shift Viper Flight member that is deployed from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. "It's very important and we really get to do something different every day. It's a constant learning experience."

"This job is always changing and a lot less monotonous than some of our other responsibilities," said Senior Airman Ted Collazo, a Viper Flight day shift member that is deployed from Charleston AFB. "It's a good job to be part of."

Part of the daily routine for the Vipers is dealing with around 50 camps located outside the perimeter. These camps are homes for various civilians that raise camels, sheep and other animals.

"I really like the public relations part of it," said Staff Sgt. Scott Weber, Viper Flight night shift patrol leader, who is deployed from Scott AFB. "I like stopping at the camps, providing them some water and just chit-chatting with them."

"It's important to build a good rapport with them," said Staff Sgt. Jacob Hey, a night shift Viper Flight patrol leader, who is also deployed from Scott AFB. "You just never know what type of information they have."

A positive relationship with the camps has paid huge dividends for the vipers and the base in the past. The flight constantly gets intelligence regarding possible threats as well as other helpful tidbits.

"They have provided us some good information regarding new camps starting up and many times they discover (unexploded ordnance)," said Sergeant Sanscrainte. "It's almost like a neighborhood watch out here. They'll flag us down talk to us about different things. It's really a good relationship for the most part."

The Vipers also have the huge responsibility of patrolling the surface-to-air missile and man-portable air defense footprint for the inbound and outbound aircraft.

"We're the tip of the spear for the bases defense," Sergeant Landreth said. "We're outside the wire to see first, understand what is happening first and react first the basic principle of the Air Forces integrated base defense doctrine."

"Our guys have a lot of flexibility," Sergeant Sanscrainte said. "They cover very large areas, move very quickly and provide our front line defense."

Providing that defense does have its share of challenges. Working in the middle of the desert, it's very easy to get lost and just a small breeze will drop visibility by half. And for the members of the night shift, they face a whole different set of obstacles.

"It's a lot different at night than it is during the day," Sergeant Hey said. "We have to get used to where lights are and we have to get very familiar with our NVGs and the PLGR. If you get too far out, it's pretty hard to find your way around, so we just have to be that much familiar with the surroundings."

The mission of the base is provide boots on the ground and regardless of the challenges or difficulties the Viper Flight faces, they will continue to do all they can to make sure that mission continues to happen.

"People on the base can rest easy with us out here," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Stevens, Viper Flight day shift patrol leader, who is deployed from the South Carolina Air National Guard. "Our guys are out here day and night covering the base and once you come out here your eyes really open up."

"It's neat to be able to do this type of job in the AOR," Sergeant Hey said. "There are a lot of places where we wouldn't be able to do this and I'm glad that we can do it."

• Date Taken: 09.07.2006
• Date Posted: 09.07.2006 08:34
• Story ID: 7643
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)