Patriot Defender eye opening experience for reservist: Part two

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  March 10 finally arrived for Master Sgt. Terry Reisinger. He had been anticipating the day he would start Patriot Defender, an Air Force Reserve Command security forces training course he was accepted to last fall.

The NCO in charge of 445th Airlift Wing chaplain services was pumped, motivated and inquisitive on what to expect once he got to Fort Wolters, Texas, to begin the March 10-26 course. His civilian job as a senior lab technician with Tosoh SMD, Inc, also supported this training opportunity and rooted him on.

After landing in Texas, Sergeant Reisinger and a gaggle of security forces members, also there for Patriot Defender, were greeted by the 610th Security Forces Squadron cadre instructing the group to begin loading their luggage onto the awaiting trucks and buses.

"Not long after arriving, more and more people were showing up that were there for Patriot Defender and they noticed I wasn't wearing a security forces badge. After introducing myself several times, an individual approached me about a problem he had at home. We spoke and I asked his permission to write down some notes and if it would be o.k. to communicate the information to my chaplain. He gladly welcomed it and we pressed on loading the baggage," Sergeant Reisinger said.

Upon arrival to the training grounds, Sergeant Reisinger met his chaplain cadre, Chaplain (Maj.) Michael Seaman. As it turned out, Sergeant Reisinger was the only student chaplain corps member in attendance. He wondered, "How am I going to fit into this program? How will I go about taking care of all these 143 Airmen?"

On the third day of training, he began training with Bravo Flight. He started to form a bond with the group and was later officially embedded with them, becoming part of Fire Team Charlie, in Bravo Flight's First Squad.

"Not only was I was part of the group and did everything they did, I was also their chaplain corps conduit while we were going through our training." Sergeant Reisinger said.

The third training day also included a Christian Protestant service with Holy Communion.

"We had 21 in attendance for the service. Three additional services were held in the field with 32 people participating," the sergeant said.

Sergeant Reisinger was also performing other than services related work for the chaplaincy.

"Chaplain Seaman was instructing me on deployment issues. He has great experience working in the AOR. Having deployed multiple times, he gave a perspective that I learned a great deal from. He also took me through a leadership development course that he crafted the course to work with and handle chaplaincy operations," Sergeant Reisinger said.

The final days of Patriot Defender included urban operation, or training on clearing rooms and buildings. It also marked the day that a strong bond that was formed was soon coming to an end for the sergeant.

"Those last days of training were intense. My fire team leader had to grab me and place me where I supposed to be. But I learned a lot from the whole squad. When we were finished on the final day, we all felt a great sense of relief but also of disappointment that we were going our separate ways ... but glad it was over," Sergeant Reisinger said.

"Overall, I am very happy how everything turned out. I met a number of great Airmen. I learned much from their experience and skill sets. I will not forget Bravo Flight, First Squad, Fire Team Charlie and Chaplain Seaman. All of us together accomplished getting prepared for deployment, making new friends and preparing the mind, body and soul for whatever is thrown at us."

(Editor's Note: This is part two of a two-part series on Sergeant Reisinger's Patriot Defender experience.)