332 ESFS: Not 'why?' but 'why not?'

Photo By Maj. Rusty Ridley | Members of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron spend time on a firing range at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Oct. 30, 2011. The airmen stay proficient while deployed by using the host nation resource.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

11.05.2011

Story by 1st Lt. Rusty Ridley 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Overcoming obstacles and adversity are part of life, especially on a deployment. But what some see as problems, others see as opportunities.

Airmen deployed with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron knew they would need to be creative and find solutions for re-establishing a security presence in a near bare-base environment.

The entire squadron had the opportunity to train at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., before they deployed to conduct their mission planning and have access to information of the area before they arrived.

"When we got on the ground we told the officers, senior NCOs and Airmen: we have nothing, think outside the box and let's build a capability--and that's exactly what they've been doing," said Lt. Col. Mark Walsh, 332nd ESFS commander.

Walsh credits his people with being creative and meeting mission requirements by unconventional means.

"Instead of asking 'why?' we ask 'why not?' and we are able to accomplish a lot," said Walsh, a native of Lakewood, N.J.

1st Lt. Keil Luber, 332nd ESFS supply section officer in charge, and a native of Cedar Park, Texas, made it a priority to find materials before the unit's logistics detail equipment arrived on station. He traveled in country to other bases and worked with the Army and the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office for acquisition of resources.

In a work room in the 332nd ESFS Building, construction of useful items is accomplished using shelving units, closets, bed frames and other non-usable material gathered from the base to make functional storage spaces and innovative targets for the range.

"We don't complain about what we don't have, we develop solutions," said Luber.

Security forces units don't typically deploy with range capabilities, however Walsh values the importance of airmen staying proficient while deployed.

"It's important to me that our personnel shoot down-range before the enemy shows up and to practice in the environment they are going to potentially fight in," said Walsh, who is deployed from Shaw AFB, S.C.

The airmen go to the range to compete and develop skills. Newly created targets made of reused wood, ammunition cans as counterweights and attached strings to initiate a back-and-forth motion, will be used in conjunction with physical fitness demands at the range.

"Just having stationary targets is not as effective," Walsh said. "You need something that moves so airmen can track the movement of the target and make their accuracy better."

Coordinating with host nation counterparts to employ the use of the firing range allows airmen to prepare to defend the base.

"We're constantly changing the picture and the variables, so we get airmen who are comfortable with the uncomfortable," Walsh said. "And that's what you need to win in combat. The enemy is going to make things as uncomfortable as possible."

Luber, and his range personnel, continually seek ways to adapt the way they train.

"It's a different course of fire," said Luber, who is deployed from Hurlburt Field, Fla. "We try to make it as exciting as possible and to build their confidence.

"We always add an element of challenge or competition," Luber continued. "The airmen always want to know who's the best."

Through creativity and hard work, security forces airmen assigned to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia are completing the mission.

"We give our airmen guidance and let them surprise us," said Walsh. "And they do so every time.

"We have a great team who work together to solve problems," Walsh continued. "They are a great crew who make things happen."

• Date Taken: 11.05.2011
• Date Posted: 11.08.2011 06:30
• Story ID: 79710
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)