Washington Air Guard security forces train UW cadets in small unit tactics

Photo By Senior Airman Mckenzie Airhart | University of Washington Detachment 910 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) cadet Peterson (right) is instructed on how to properly handle a stretcher by Airmen from the 194th Security Forces Flight assigned to the Washington Air National Guard May 4, 2019 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Members of the 194th SFF hosted UW Det 910 AFROTC cadets at a paintball course for small unit tactics training scenarios. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Mckenzie Airhart)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

05.04.2019

Story by Airman 1st Class Mckenzie Airhart 

194th Wing

Members of the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Security Force’s Flight joined about 90 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from the University of Washington’s Detachment 910 on a paintball course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord during the Guard unit’s May drill.

Cadets learned about small unit tactics, which included shooting and movement techniques. They were also evaluated on performance during the scenarios, said Staff Sgt. Evan Lajoie, the non-commissioned officer in charge of training with the 194th SFF.

“The security forces Airmen from the 194th were able to teach us a lot of tactical movements and safety procedures out in a field setting, which we haven’t received [previously], and gave us the opportunity to practice small group tactics as well as experience in small group leadership,” said Cadet Robert H. Bennett, UW’s Det 910 Lima Flight commander.

Lajoie said he appreciates the fresh minds the cadets bring to the training environment because security forces is able to expose them to new tactics and training they may not be used to.

The working partnership has cadets gaining valuable insight from security forces guardsmen through different training events every few months, said Lajoie.

“It’s always fun working with these guys,” said Lajoie. “They’re the future leaders of the Air Force. I would love to see at least a couple of them become cops, and hopefully I’ve given them a new understanding of what it is SF does.”

• Date Taken: 05.04.2019
• Date Posted: 05.22.2019 13:03
• Story ID: 320816
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US