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Staff Sgt. Leonard Sherwood reports
surveillance data to Security Forces units at Bagram Air Field,
Afghanistan, Feb. 16, 2012. Sherwood is a controller with the 455th
Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and is deployed from Beale
Air Force Base, Calif. Controllers remotely monitor Bagram's
perimeter for potential threats and report all security violations
to security forces, allowing them to take defensive action. Photo by
USAF Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom
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BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (3/22/2012) - Simple in focus and
repetitive in duties, several missions on Bagram are woven into the
day-to-day operation of the base in such a way that most people may
see or hear of them once and then not interact with them the rest of
their deployment. These are the missions where airmen perform the
same one or two tasks all day, over and over, as a full-time job and
without much reprieve.
As mundane as that may seem, these
warriors are critical to enabling all missions on base by providing
our continual presence in the country. These duties are critical
elements in our base defense. This is part three of a four-part
series highlighting Bagram Air Field missions that may seem small
but have a tremendous impact in defending the base.
Controllers work primarily from the command post and monitor
perimeter security by watching a combination of remote cameras and
the fence line's tactical automated security system. They also relay
critical information between Bagram warfighting units and dispatch
response teams to perceived threats. |
"Anything and everything that happens on that perimeter
comes through us first," said Staff Sgt. Leonard Sherwood,
455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron controller.
"The controller is the middle person between the perimeter
defenders and the support agencies needed to defend the
base."
The controller utilizes communication radios,
monitors unclassified and classified internet traffic, and
relies on thorough shift change briefings to stay mindful of
where assets are located and what they are doing at any
time.
"You got to know where your people are," said
Sherwood. "We have to keep track of what patrols are
offline, who is in the towers, who services which zones, and
so on."
With this information, the controllers ensure
everyone is where they need to be and all assets are
supplied and ready to defend the base. For this mission, the
455th ESFS has to ensure they are placing the right kind of
personnel in the position.
"The people in the
controller position have to be above and beyond," said
Master Sgt. Corey Nielsen, 455th ESFS non-commissioned
officer in charge. "They have to be able to multitask. It is
very busy. They have to be able to communicate clearly and
quickly. They must be able to talk to higher ranking
individuals calmly and professionally.
"The airmen
who work this position are absolute professionals," he said.
"I have the utmost respect for them. They are a critical
element of our first-line threat detection."
Ever
vigilant, controllers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
"Sometimes it gets quiet," said Sherwood. "You
soak up those quiet moments. You don't know when it's coming
around again. Especially in a deployed location and the
mission we have here. Things may pop off real fast...no
notice. You just have to be ready to react. To go from
eating lunch into jumping into action, running checklists,
making notifications and doing what you are supposed to
do...to take control.
"The mission couldn't succeed
without the controllers being able to relay information," he
said. "The Joint Defense Operation Center is the central
control position, everything ultimately goes through them.
But, they can't do it on their own. We are their eyes to the
perimeter. We help keep Bagram safe."
Sherwood has
served in security forces for 12 years and is on his third
deployment. This is his first deployment to Afghanistan.
By USAF Tech. Sgt. Vernon Cunningham
455th Air Expeditionary
Wing
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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