Reapers discover IED through keen eyes, alertness

Photo By Christopher Willis | Airmen from the 755th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Reaper team prepare to mount up during a recent early-morning mission at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. This group of security forces airmen operates missions “outside the wire” providing security for the personnel at Bagram Air Field. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chris Willis)  

BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN

06.27.2013

Story by Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Most airmen can mentally rewind to the Combat Airman Skills Training course and recall the frustration or apprehension of not being able to locate all the improvised explosive devices set out in the training lanes.

Because the training is so realistic, at first, most airmen trigger the training IEDs before spotting them.

After this has occurred for the third of fourth time, many airmen start to become frustrated with the training and ask, “Why bother? I’m not going to see an IED anyway, so why strain myself?”

All the training CAST instructors hoped would stick became sixth sense for several airmen from the 755th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron assigned as Reapers crew members near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, June 22.

The crew members were doing a patrol when something out of the ordinary caught their attention. A flashlight visual from one of the members shone on an object near their mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle

Without hesitation, they secured the area maintaining a perimeter around the object to prevent any harm to themselves and others, and alerted explosive ordnance disposal via their 9-line IED/unexploded ordnance request that there was a suspicious device in their area of responsibility.

EOD later reported the partially-buried object was an IED weighing approximately 150 pounds. Because of their alertness, an IED designed to harm anyone who detonated it was taken out of commission.

"The 755th ESFS Reapers is comprised predominantly of security forces airmen, many from the 820th base defense group," said Capt. Michael Alvord, 755th ESFS Reapers operations officer. "However, IEDs don't just target battlefield airmen personnel, they target anyone and everyone. Therefore, counter-IED training is critical for all personnel. Who knows, it could be you that identifies the IED and saves lives."

Staying focused and alert during their patrols is key the cops said as they described their thought processes while looking for IEDs.

“Stay alive!” was one answer. “I want to go home,” was another response from some of the crew members during a recent 455th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs interview.

What about CAST training? What would these airmen have to convey to others currently going through the course who might be frustrated or find it cumbersome?

“I would tell them to take the training seriously,” a security forces airman said. “To pay attention, to do their job right and don’t get lackadaisical.”

Fast forward to a deployed location and recall your CAST training. Think about having to do an aggressive posture of alertness in the field as opposed to letting danger get close as part of a job description – just like the 755th ESFS Reapers crews do day-in and day-out.

• Date Taken: 06.27.2013
• Date Posted: 06.26.2013 22:49
• Story ID: 109328
• Location: BAGRAM, AF
• Hometown: GLOBE, AZ, US