Responsibilities of the Air Force Job
Duties of Air Force Security Forces
The Security Force's main goal is to keep the people, planes, base, weapons (even nuclear), and the surrounding area safe from any threat, including the intrusion by unauthorized people. The largest career field in the Air Force, the Security Forces stay busy with their primary duties and still are the base's first response to disasters — either natural or man-made,
Security force members are essentially the military police within the Air Force and the branch's first line of defense. They keep the peace at all Air Force bases and installationsaround the world. This career field's duties include such things as securing the perimeter of a base, to handling security dogs as the base's law enforcement force.
This is a career field that could lead to the civilian job of police officer, or other security personnel.
The use of deadly force to protect Air Force personnel and resources are among the serious responsibilities of security forces. They may be called upon to protect nuclear or conventional weapons, or protect Air Force One from hostile forces. Their duties also call for performing life-saving procedures, like CPR, when acting as first-responders to an accident or disaster situation.
Security forces personnel are also involved with the planning to implement security policies and procedures. They may be called upon to provide oversight and guidance or assistance to commanders and supervise and train other security forces personnel. This might include inspecting and evaluating the other personnel and analyzing any resulting reports or statistics.
Military Working Dog Teams
Another key responsibility of Air Force security forces is the training and use of military working dog teams as part of their daily operations. They're responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of the dogs, and training the dogs in such things as intruder control and hold training, as well as keeping training records.
Qualifications for Air Force Security Forces
Security force personnel need normal color vision, and can't have any history of personality disorder. They must never have been convicted by a general, special, or summary courts-martial, or non-judicial punishment for drug offenses, or other criminal conduct.
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In order to enter the security forces, recruits need to be able to qualify for secret security clearance and to bear arms under Air Force regulations. They should be able to speak distinctly and achieve a general score of 33 or better on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam.
Completion of high school with courses in government, behavioral science, computer, and communicative skills is useful for recruits considering the security forces as their Air Force job.
Training for Air Force Security Forces
All applicants will undergo training at the Air Force security forces academy at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. During the 65-day course, students will learn basic military police functions, including missile security, convoy actions, capture and recovery of nuclear weapons, law enforcement and directing traffic. The course also teaches nonlethal tactics, such as using pepper spray and pressure points on a body.
They'll also learn anti-terrorism and law enforcement techniques, and how to be effective in air base defense, armament and equipment, information security and other related skills.
Advanced Security Forces Training
Advanced training within the security forces can lead to becoming an Air Force counter-sniper. For example, the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's Close Precision Engagement Team (CEPT), or 'Tiger Team,' are highly trained shooter/spotter pairs who perform sniper missions, counter-sniper, perimeter security, and reconnaissance missions to defend U.S. Air Bases at home and around the world.
