Defenders Train Together

Airman 1st Class Jonathan Summers, 366th Security Forces Squadron response force member, fires on simulated advancing enemy forces during the Capstone Training Event at the Saylor Creek Range, Idaho, Nov. 5, 2014. Summers and other defenders supported the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company joint terminal attack controllers during the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Connor J. Marth/RELEASED)

Defenders Train Together

366th Security Forces Squadron members and 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company joint terminal attack controllers pose in front of a UH-60 Blackhawk during the Capstone Training Event at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Nov. 5, 2014. The joint-force training provided real world simulations for the Airmen and Marines. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Connor J. Marth/RELEASED)

Breaking the Norm: Defenders Train Together

Published Nov. 7, 2014
By Airman Connor J. Marth
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

11/72014 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho. -- Three United States military services joined forces for the Capstone Training Event here Nov. 4 - 7.

Part of the Capstone Training Event featured 366th Security Forces Squadron tasked with providing support to Marine joint terminal attack controllers from the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company as well as the Idaho National Guard.

"Our job is to ensure the Marines are able to control the battlefield," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Ball, 366th SFS police services NCO in charge. "We're out here to help them succeed in their mission."

Air strikes, important person transports and defensive position support are a few things with which the Gunfighters were directly involved.

"It's rare to work with this many people and aircrafts," said Corporal Justin Urich, 1st ANGLICO fire power control chief. "With events like this we need people on both sides of the force for things to run smoothly."

SFS Defenders weren't only playing the good guys, but the opposing forces as well. Gunfighters from the squadron wore alternate uniforms and engaged the opposing team to create a realistic training environment.

"It's outside the wire compared to what we normally do," said 1st Lt. Jeremiah Baxter, 366th SFS logistics officer. "It's a good break to go from normal base security operations to more of a deployed mindset."

While deployed environments present real risks and challenges, stressors are also a factor in training events. SFS personnel are confident this is a benefit.

"We can simulate deployment stress in a safer environment," said Capt. Ryan Kiggins, 366th SFS operations officer. "In turn, we can use the tactics we simulate to help create a stronger and more prepared security forces squadron."