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Malmstrom AFB, Montana - In November of 2015, one of the most
memorable experiences happened to Senior Airman Jonathan James,
341st Security Forces Squadron patrolman, who said he will remember
it for the rest of his life.
James said there was a gate
runner who intentionally went around the gates, started to navigate
the barriers and went hands on with James and another patrolman.
“We had to use
force to take the individual down and apprehend him,” James said.
“We did everything we were trained to do for that particular
situation.”
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jonathan James, 341st Security Forces Squadron
installation patrolman, secures his weapon in the trunk of the car
May 23, 2016, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana James patrols the
base to make sure everyone is safe, and people are following the
rules set in place. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jaeda
Tookes)
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The situation worsened as James realized that the
apprehension was turning into a suspicious package
situation.
“A good friend and supervisor who I
highly respect, and another patrolman went around to do a
vehicle search, which is protocol for a suspicious package,”
James said.
As James' fellow
Airmen conducted the vehicle search, the apprehended
individual made an alarming comment to James.
“The
individual apprehended on the ground looked up to me and
said, ‘your buddies just blew up,'” James said.
Because of the comment made, James and his fellow security
forces brought in the Explosive Ordinance Disposal team to
determine whether or not it was a real threat.
After
all protocols were safe, and the individual was taken into
custody.
“If you ask any one of us who were on-scene
at the time, we were just doing our job and what we were
trained to do,” James said. “We didn't do it for any type of
special recognition.”
James, along with the other
341st SFS members on-scene at the time were recognized by
base leadership.
James has been serving his country
since June of 2011.
“My grandfather was one of the
first pararescuemen back in 1950,” James said. “Hearing some
of his stories made me want to join the Air Force.”
James joined the Air Force to serve his country, deploy, get
a free education and travel the world.
“The typical
duty day for members of SFS is from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and
sometimes can even be a 15-hour day,” said Master Sgt.
Robert Renfrow, 341st SFS flight chief.
James
starts his work day at 4 a.m., and is expected to be at
guard mount by 5:30 a.m.
“Guard mount consists of all
of our guys who man the control centers,” said Renfrow. “We
go over our daily briefings, information from the previous
night's team and the daily operations.”
According to
James, the Air Force sends down daily checks that must be
accomplished.
“One requirement that must be
accomplished is our daily perimeter checks to ensure there
isn't anything suspicious or holes in any of the fences,”
James said. “In the past we had a bear jump the fence.”
James also patrols the base to make sure everyone is
safe, and people are following the rules.
“Laws are
in place for a reason,” James said. “No one likes to be told
they were caught, because of something they did wrong.”
James wishes people would know that when they are pulled
over, written a citation or corrected on something, members
of law enforcement are not doing it to be mean, but to keep
them and other members of the base safe.
James also
volunteers his off-duty time keeping people safe as a
volunteer firefighter for the Vaughn Fire Department in
Vaughn, Montana.
“I have been involved with
firefighting since I was 16 years old, and am a lieutenant
for the Vaughn Fire Rescue,” James said. “As a lieutenant, I
do not have the full privilege to run an incident, but I can
if absolutely necessary. Normally my role is to lead the
crews inside a house fire.”
According to James, he
met his wife while volunteering for the Black Eagle Fire
Department.
“A couple of years ago, my wife and I
were responding to a house fire,” James said. “We made it to
the second floor, and were called to evacuate the building.
As soon as we walked out of the front door, the roof
collapsed where we were standing.”
James has been
volunteering as a firefighter with Montana since February
2012, and occasionally volunteers with the Cascade Search
and Rescue.
“I like to think I am keeping people
safe, but ultimately the Air Force does come first,” James
said.
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jaeda Tookes
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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