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Scott hires 24 civilian police officers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Woodward
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Battle dress uniforms will be brought back to Scott, but this time not for active duty members. Instead, for civilians. 

Under the Security Forces transformation, Security Forces members train for two months, deploy for six months and reconstitute. 

"This causes a lack of Security Forces members on base," said Heather Sims, 375th Security Forces Squadron Plans and Programs chief. "Not to mention, once Security Forces members return to work on base they are not used to changes that occurred while they were deployed. " 

Air Mobility Command will be the first command to test Department of the Air Force civilian law enforcement on base. 

Scott is in the process of hiring civilians to occupy 24 slots that the 375th Security Forces Squadron has not been able to fill. Out of the 24 police officers, there will be one assistant operations officer, six civilian flight chiefs and 17 police officers. \

The first requirement the civilians must fulfill is a physical fitness test. The standards are a mile and a half run in 17 minutes and 30 seconds, 29 sit-ups, 21 push-ups and a 300-meter sprint in 81 seconds. These standards do not fluctuate for age or gender. 

Second, the civilians go through a firearms qualification. The civilians also attend the Veteran's Affairs Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Ark. 

Having prior military experience is not a requirement, but is 100 percent true for Scott's selected civilians. 

The civilian police officers will wear battle dress uniforms with blue ball caps. They will not wear any rank insignia and their uniform will have U.S. Air Force Security Forces Police sewn on their sleeves instead of U.S. Air Force above the pocket. They will also, wear a distinct badge. 

Civilian police officers will have their own Air Force Instructions to follow, similar to the ones military members follow stating that they are expected to maintain physical and appearance standards. Civilian police officers and active duty security forces members will have the same authority. 

One thing that may cause some confusion is civilian police officers will not salute officers. 

"It is exciting to be pioneering the whole program with AMC," said Joseph Walters, Police Flight Chief trainee. "I know there will be growing pains and I may throw a couple of salutes, but I know the job." 

Mr. Walters was in the Air Force for 11 years and served as a Security Forces member at Scott. The civilians hired are not all prior Airmen, all services are represented. 

"It was great for the squadron to be in line with the Security Forces Transition plan," said Maj. Robert Rossi, 375th Security Forces commander. "Joint Total Force Guard, Reserve will be securing the installation." 

Those with prior Air Force experience will bring a wealth of knowledge and those from other services will bring their different experiences and ideas to improve the overall program, Major Rossi added. 

"I was in the Army for 27 years and in law enforcement for 10 years," said Terry Marigny, civilian police trainee. "I think the program will provide me with another career. I can be in a field I enjoy, but also close to my daughter who is stationed here. It feels good to be in the pilot program to work out all the kinks for a smooth transition." 

The civilian police officers will not just perform gate guard, but instead will work side by side with the active-duty police performing all the duties that Security Forces members perform.