WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Splat, splat, splat! The paint-filled simulation rounds were flying everywhere, splattering on walls on windows and all over Airmen from the 445th Security Force Squadron during the shoot, move and communicate training on Saturday, March 5, 2016 in Dayton, Ohio.
The colorful display was all part of serious training for the Airmen while learning tactics at the Dayton Police Department "Shoot House" Training Center. The shoot house is an abandoned set of building on Dayton’s west side used by law enforcement, civilian and military, for realistic active shooter training, tactics or combat scenarios Airmen might face downrange.
Col. Matthew Conrad, 445th Airlift Wing vice commander, participated actively in several of the realistic scenarios. “I’m not going to say it hurts, but yeah, it hurts,” said Conrad, of getting struck by the rounds during the fire fights.
“This training builds confidence and teamwork with those you work with,” said Staff Sgt. Alex Stephens, a member of the security forces squadron. “You need to be able to know how to react to threats you might encounter as well as reacting differently to those who are innocent but might be encountered during the course of a situation, he added.
During the force on force event, approximately 16 personnel took part in the training under the watchful eye of two instructors. But before security forces members get to the force on force training, they must learn to “crawl and walk” as Tech. Sgt. Samuel Hogue, 445th SFS action officer, describes it. “They say you train how you will fight. Otherwise you will learn bad habits; it’s all about muscle memory.”
Hogue said during the “crawl” portion of training, new security forces Airmen learn how to set up their gear, weapons identification and basic tactical movements. Next as they learn to “walk”, the forces are shooting and moving together as team and firing at static targets. With no one shooting back. Finally the culmination of training such as was conducted this weekend.
All security forces Airmen must take part in the training each year. The unit hopes to be able to expand this sort of training later this year to include 445th Airlift Wing pilots and medics with scenarios involving downed pilots and treating patients while under fire.
At the conclusion of the training, Col. Conrad reflected on his participation in the realistic scenarios. “It’s awesome to be around these people who are so excited about their training and mission. I’d go out any day and train with them.”
Twenty four members of the 445 SFS unit got more real world experience this March. They spent their annual tour at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam augmenting active duty security forces there. The Ohio men and women pulled duty on the flight line, gates and law enforcement patrol.