LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- More than 600 Airmen from Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and Dyess AFB, Texas, took part in a 17-day training exercise to maintain capabilities and ensure mission readiness at Little Rock AFB April 1-17, 2019.
Security forces played a vital role in the full-spectrum readiness training, ensuring the safety and security of the camp.
“Our mission is to protect this installation,” said U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Ashley Shippee, 19th Security Forces Squadron flight sergeant. “We are here to defend personnel, resources, any type of equipment so that we can help foster the community relationship and support the C-130J mission.”
Throughout the exercise, the abilities of defenders’ - augmented by some Airmen performing security functions from various units within the wing - were put to the test. The Airmen encountered simulated ground, air, and chemical attacks around the clock and were graded on the timeliness and accuracy of the response.
“When you go into a deployment, you never really know what to expect,” Shippee said. “With all of these different practices, it helps put your mind at ease. We have a really young crew for this exercise, so it solidifies that transition going from tech school to your first base. When they do end up deploying, they will have more of a comfort and understanding of what they could possibly expect.”
Shippee entered the exercise in the new role of being a squad leader.
“It’s been a very eye-opening experience for me taking on that new position and being able to go out there and lead them while observing the way our Airmen operate when taking that direction,” Shippee said.
With an ever-changing Air Force, this exercise offered Airmen a way to experience new responsibilities before deploying.
“I’m proud to be in security forces, as rough and tough as it is,” Shippee said. “I’m happy for those guys out there. They are doing a great job.”