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Humans of Scott: Innovation, Tech. Sgt. Casey Calvert

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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  For one showcase Airman, her journey took her from her pre-Air Force home along the beaches of Florida, to her first duty station of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.

Tech. Sgt. Casey Calvert remembers those early days with a smile.

"I was used to the heat and the beaches and then my first duty station was Malmstrom. My first winter there, I was out shoveling snow at a missile site, and it was negative 75 degrees,” Calvert said. “I had to adapt to that really quickly."
Airman holds small drone in hand.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Casey Calvert, Detachment X program manager, holds a small unmanned drone on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Oct. 20, 2023. Calvert established Det. X to enhance surveillance capabilities on Scott AFB, extending an Airman's ability to conduct faster and safer perimeter checks and track vehicles or personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Mark Sulaica)
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With pride in her voice, she said, “I absolutely loved the mission. I think that's the coolest mission in the military because it's literally deterring people from attacking the United States because you're guarding missiles."

Yet, life had a knack for surprising her. A transfer to Scott Air Force Base led her from security to law enforcement, a transition that didn't come without its challenges. She candidly admitted, "While in Malmstrom, I was just on the security side of security forces and as a non-commissioned officer, who has never done anything in law enforcement, Scott was a really tough adjustment for me."

Nevertheless, the tight-knit bonds she formed with her comrades at the 375th Security Forces Squadron kept her spirits high.

"I love my unit. I love the security forces here,” she said. “We have a lot of pride. So, I love that aspect.”

Calvert’s time at the 375 SFS positioned her to be part of making history on Scott AFB.

Creating Detachment X, a new small innovative drone program on Scott AFB, has become a defining moment in Calvert's career that is etched in her memory. She recounted how she was notified she’d be standing up the new unit.

“In December before my birthday, the whole command team walked into my office and I said to myself, 'What the heck is going on?' They gave me my birthday card and told me, 'Hey, it's official. You get to go over to the [375th Operational Group] and to stand up a wing [small unmanned aerial system] program.’ So, it was a really memorable moment for me."

With genuine enthusiasm, she shared, "Working in the OG, honestly, is something that not a lot of cops get to do. But, working in a flying organization and getting to branch out has been a great opportunity. The 375th OG is really big on mentoring. They are constantly teaching you things and they welcomed me as a cop with open arms, and I've loved every second of this job."

As Calvert's journey at Det X comes to an end, a new chapter is on the horizon. She is preparing to take on the role of a Military Training Leader at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas and she shared her hopes for the program.

“My replacements are already making waves. They're in talks about enhancing security measures with tethered drones stationed at the base,” she said. “What I’m really jealous of, and can see for the future of this program, is its potential to become an Air Force hub or model for establishing sUAS programs similar to Det X. I know the program will become a big part of the Air Force in the future.”