INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey—
How do you adequately train a defender?
One thing is for sure, it is not merely an assembly line, where
producers hold clipboards and check boxes. It is a matter of creating defenders, who are the first and last line of defense for an installation.
As the 39th Security Forces Squadron’s section chief of training, no one knows this better than Master Sgt. Andre Sanchez-Romero, who for the past year has made the push to align the unit with the Air Force wide directive known as Reconstitute the Defender.
“Training to defend an installation from enemy attacks, securing critical resources without fail and using any level amount of force to include deadly force is a heavy responsibility,” he said. “Proficiency ensures our defenders are confident and capable in performing these and other additional duties.”
This multi-year plan focuses on three lines of effort: restoring readiness, revitalizing organizations at all levels, and building a more lethal force.
After a year of pushing reforms, the innovations he advocated for such as advanced training equipment, a mobile command center, and a weapons storage portable armory, are finally on order. Of that equipment, Sanchez-Romero says, the use of force simulator will revamp mission readiness and immerse the trainee into various scenarios.
“We will be able to train at a moment’s notice,” said Sanchez-Romero. “At the same time it’s not as manning intensive as firing down range or (using tactics such as) shoot, move and communicate down in the field. The system allows us to put our Airmen into a training scenario and help them meet the standards as competent defenders according to the RDI. It will give us a better strategic advantage on all fronts.”
Ultimately, the new equipment will allow the unit to conduct maximum training with minimum manpower while mitigating current limiting factors.
“Due to the nature of our job, sometimes we can’t plan (too far ahead) but if we have the (simulation) system, which is a dedicated indoors system it will take our Airmen who may be having problems with firing, active shooter or use of force procedures and immerse them in a controlled environment,” said Sanchez-Romero. “They can actually pick up skills and train on procedures that you can lose overtime if you don’t use them.”
While the new equipment is expected to increase overall mission effectiveness, Sanchez-Romero said he’s he has no doubt the Airmen are ready 24/7 to defend the installation and the new innovations will simply build on an already solid foundation.
One of the defenders who expressed this same confidence is Airman 1st Class James Cline, a monitor facility operator. Cline trained under Sanchez-Romero, and says he and his colleagues still have the firepower to tackle any threat to Incirlik.
“I am positive the defenders at this installation can handle anything that comes our way,” said Cline. “The 39th SFS is ready for anything thrown at it. Training is constantly evolving with new ideas and new ways of doing things. We are ready to execute.”
Cline added that at the end of the day, the defenders’ primary duty is to serve and protect their community. This duty entails not only proficiency in current skills, but also continuous learning in order to become better every day.
“We owe it to ourselves and to the community to do our job the best way we can,” said Cline. “Knowledge is a weapon. The more knowledge you have, the bigger and better the weapon you carry. It’s on each defender to go out and want to expand their knowledge.”
The new equipment is expected to expand the knowledge of all defenders and although most of these innovations will arrive long after Sanchez-Romero has left Incirlik, he is content with knowing his Airmen will receive the training they need and deserve.
“All of our inbound Airmen (of all ranks) are bringing a combination of ideas, experience and knowledge to Incirlik,” he said. “In my year here, I have seen the unit do a complete 180-degree turn regarding how we lead, mentor and develop our Airmen and how we execute the mission. This drive is still present and I can only guarantee the successes of the unit will continue to mount.”