Security Forces utilizes newly trained augmentees Published Sept. 30, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Fowler 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 375th Security Forces Squadron began utilizing 20 newly trained augmentees at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois last week. The augmentees are recruited from Scott units other than Security Forces and will fill in to help perform basic police functions in the event SFS becomes minimally manned. Before they can be trusted to perform SFS augmentee duties, the Airmen must go through a week of training. Joe Holtz, 375th SFS trainer, handled most of the training of the new augmentees. During most of September, Holtz and how many 375th SFS trainers taught Airmen on how to properly perform tasks that may be required of them when they are temporarily assigned to SFS. "We trained heavily on how to use a baton, since they will not be carrying tazers, but they need to be qualified on a non-lethal weapon," said Holtz. "We also trained on how to search and hand cuff a person, perform routine traffic stops, entry control gates responsibilities and of course weapon firing." In addition the augmentees were taught how to protect themselves from possible pathogens, proper radio codes, the phonetic alphabet and other basic police tasks and procedures. Airman 1st Class Seth Tomb, an augmentee from the 375th Communications Squadron, described the chance to work for security forces as an exciting opportunity. Handling firearms on a daily basis is something the Holtz and Tomb said is a new experience for many of the augmentees and provided them with an opportunity to improve a skill outside their comfort zone. "It [the training] was a lot of fun," Tomb said. "I improved my M9 and M4 handling skills. I have never fired a three round burst weapon before but it was great." In addition to being an exciting and new experience for the augmentees, it is also an important job that benefits the base. "We know the augmentee program is a burden on units when it comes to providing bodies but it is much appreciated," said Holtz. "Ultimately it's not just a cop thing or a cop issue; it's for the entire installation. It is going to make gate traffic flow a little bit easier during the day; going to allow more people for police responses ... it's an installation thing and not just a security forces thing." Most importantly, Holtz specified that installation security was more than just a security forces job. "Everybody has a hand in installation security. Without safety and security, what else do we have?" Security forces augmentees will work until the end of October, while 375th SFS members are completing mandatory training, and will be reactivated in earlier December until March.