Physical Security Contributes to Readiness

Photo By Cheryl Phillips | 88th Readiness Division Physical Security Inspector Larry Frady instructs class members during the Physical Security Officer Training Workshop.  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

06.19.2019

Story by Cheryl Phillips 

88th Readiness Division

Unit readiness is the number one goal of all Army Reserve units. It may not be readily evident, but physical security directly contributes to unit readiness. The roughly 20 attendees of the 88th Readiness Division’s Physical Security Training Workshop learned that first hand during a workshop June 11-12 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Madison, Wis.

The course is designed to give Physical Security Officers, Key Control Officers, Supply Sergeants, Armorers, Motor Sergeants and others with valuable daily formal roles in unit, facility or installation physical security the important information they need to perform their jobs. The course was taught by two 88th RD Physical Security Inspectors, Larry Frady and Joshua Mattson.

Frady emphasized that inspectors are more than people who simply look at records and facilities. “We are advocates for the physical security program,” he said. “We are passionate about what we do and we enjoy doing it.”

He explained three tenets that guide his work. First there is the regulatory requirement. There are many regulations that govern physical security procedures. Second, there is the goal of readiness. “We ensure assets are available for the unit when they need them,” he said.

Finally, “we have a responsibility to teach, coach and mentor,” he said. He stressed to the course participants that he and others like him are available to provide resources, training and guidance to units, commanders and those formally involved with physical security.

Specialist Kevin Cervantes, supply sergeant with the 409th Medical Support Company (Area Support), Madison, felt the training was valuable because it will help prepare him to “assist the PSO to be in compliance with rules and regulations. I’ll be better able to understand his job, identify any issues and fix them,” he said. “This course also provides all the information I need to correctly do my job as Key Control Officer correctly.”

Cervantes sees the key control procedures and Arms, Ammunition and Explosives as two important aspects of the training. “As key custodian, I want to set up the unit for success” and keep it successful, he said. On the topic of AA&E, there are a lot of aspects to be aware of to store and protect it.

For Steve Forsheim, site PSO in Milwaukee, the most important and valuable training for him was learning best practices to “help all tenant units link together to ensure the safety and security of Soldiers and facilities.” He believes that by developing a good plan from which tenant units can base theirs, “they will all have a good common operating picture on how the site should be secured,” he said.

Forsheim found the key control topic interesting, especially in light of bad and sometimes funny stories surrounding this important aspect of physical security. He surmised that those stories may have contributed to regulations being so thorough.

The Milwaukee-based PSO sees a direct link between physical security and readiness. “Securing our equipment, ensuring all steps in the regulations are taken, allows units to focus on the mission.” His goal is to “create a well-developed plan that units can follow easily and allow them to focus on training,” Forsheim said.

Cervantes recommends the course to others. For him, the training was an “eye opener. “There is a lot of good information. Overall, it helps you practice physical security at the unit. You can use many of the aspects of the training at all times,” he said.

Frady believes that everyone has a role in physical security. The course attendees are PSO certified following the course, and take lessons back to the unit and impart them to others.

Currently, the 88th RD averages four physical security courses annually, but has offered more than double that number this year. According to Frady, in fiscal year 2020 the course will expand to three days based on student feedback. Practical exercises in risk analysis and key control will be conducted on the third day, giving greater depth to the course. The 88th RD will be the only Readiness Division to offer a three-day physical security course.

Forsheim will recommend that every PSO within his site take the training, especially with the course expanding to three days. The tenant PSOs will be able to ensure their unit commander is getting the tools he or she needs to ensure physical security, freeing them up to focus on other important activities related to readiness, he said.

The training seems to be having a positive impact in the field. Frady sees an increase in adequacy rates during inspections at those units that have sent their physical security people to the course.

• Date Taken: 06.19.2019
• Date Posted: 06.19.2019 09:58
• Story ID: 328291
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US