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375th SFS best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Monte Miller
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  The 375th Security Forces Squadron was recently recognized as the best large SF unit in the U.S. Air Force.

Maj. Robert Rossi, 375th Security Forces Squadron commander, said it's a great honor to win the award at not only the Air Mobility Command level but also Air Force wide. To his knowledge, this award is a first for Scott Air Force Base.

"We're excited," Major Rossi said. "Very excited. We've known it all along, and now the Air Force had validated our feelings and we have something to back it up. The men and women deserve it."

Major Rossi explained his squadron received the award by displaying strengths in all areas and also featured innovations in their field.

New technology plays a large part in what Security Forces does at Scott in areas like the visitors center online pass registration and new alarm systems around base just to name a few.

Last year, the Scott visitors control center, which is the busiest in AMC, issued 62,000 visitor passes, 11,000 vehicle passes, 3,000 contractor passes and 3,000 line passes.

Another factor that makes this award mean even more is that SFS achieved it while rotating personnel to deployed areas. Just last week, a group of five-members had just returned from six-months of service in Iraq.

More than 160 members of the squadron's 226 assigned personnel were deployed last year to 11 different locations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.

Major Rossi attributes his squadron's achievement to the men and women giving extra effort to accomplish their mission.

"There are other Security Forces Squadrons doing just as much," he said. "What makes us different? It's hard to say if there's one thing that makes us better. It's not just people doing their jobs, it's people going above and beyond."

Awards and recognitions earned by 375th SFS personnel last year include the Senior Airman John Levito Award, NCO Academy distinguished graduate, 10 Community College of the Air Force degrees and one bachelor's degree and the 375th administration volunteer of the year award.

"You can ask a football coach how his team won the Superbowl," Major Rossi said. "He'll tell you it was hard work and things just came together. It's the same for us. We're out doing the mission and doing it well everyday."

In 2007, the squadron:

· Supported five major commands including U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, 18th Air Force and the Air Force Communications Agency.
· Supported three wings encompassing 63,000 persons including retirees.
· Secured the Air Force's only C-40 distinguished visitors airlift support mission.
· Implemented the Fight the Base exercise
· Provided security for top level dignitaries including the President of the United States, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force both at Scott and at deployed locations.