Photo By Staff Sgt. Elora McCutcheon | Airman 1st Class Brandon Hilliard, installation entry controller with the 319th...... read more read more
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The base defenders experience harsh North Dakota winters first-hand, enduring temperatures which dipped as low as negative 27 degrees just in the past year.
“You have to embrace the suck,” said Airman 1st Class Brandon Hilliard, an installation entry controller with the 319th SFS.
Hilliard explained how the sub-zero temperatures are never fun to work in, but that there are certain things people do when they pass through the gates to help boost the moods of the Airmen on duty.
“When people smile or have positive attitudes, it’s appreciated,” Hilliard said. In addition to the smiles, Hilliard mentioned how he and other Airmen on duty are grateful of the food or drinks they might receive, especially on cold days.
Hilliard says one of his favorite parts of the job is being able to interact with a lot of people on a daily basis, despite those who can be less than friendly at times.
“Sometimes people are rude,” said Senior Airman Dakotah Smith, a base defense operations center controller. “They can be impatient, especially since they don’t like stopping.”
Working for an average of 12 hours per shift, installation entry controllers can see hundreds of people per day. Interacting with person after person can become exhausting, according to some of the installation entry controllers, who say the negative attitudes and unrealistic expectations can weigh heavily on them.
“People expect perfect customer service,” said Senior Airman Conor Burris, an installation entry controller with the 319th SFS. “They also expect us to know every phone number on base or where every building is, which can be overwhelming, especially for a new Airman.”
The Security Forces Squadron is one of the groups considered to be mission-essential, which means even when the base commander declares a base closure for extreme weather reasons, they often remain.
Part of Grand Forks AFB security forces’ mission is to defend the base by providing law enforcement, resource protection, antiterrorism and force protection, and combat arms training. Even through the winter storms, impatience or negativity, they stand boldly as the front line of defense for the warriors of the North.
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2018 09:02 |
| Story ID: | 269934 |
| Location: | GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE , ND, US |
| Web Views: | 2,113 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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