ESS course enhances defender capabilities

Airmen 1st Class Cameron Welsh and Jason Caywood, both 4th Security Forces Squadron patrolmen, set-up a wide area surveillance monitor during an electronic security system exercise on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 22, 2010. When used to maintain a secure perimeter, the monitor captures thermal imaging if there is an intruder within the area being monitored. Welsh is from Galion, Ohio, and Caywood is from Woodward, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

ESS course enhances defender capabilities

Airman 1st Class Danielle Bushek, 4th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, connects a communication module to a rechargeable battery during an electronic security system exercise on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 22, 2010. When the communication module detects an intruder it sends a signal to the base defense operation center. Bushek hails from Norwich, Conn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

ESS course enhances defender capabilities

Airman 1st Class Sarah Layton, 4th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, watches the base defense operations center monitoring system during an electronic security system exercise on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 22, 2010. A BDOC is a command and control facility established by the base commander to serve as the focal point for base security and defense. Layton hails from Ogden, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

ESS course enhances defender capabilities

Published Jan. 28, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The mission is simple enough to state in only a handful of words, "protect and defend the people, base and its assets," but it is not an easy, nor is it one that ends when reveille is played.

The 4th Security Forces Squadron electronic security system instructors are doing their part to ensure Seymour Johnson Air Force Base defenders are up to speed on the latest ESS equipment used in order to accomplish the mission at hand when they deploy.

A group of eight instructors has already graduated three classes through the base's new ESS course. To receive this certification students formally had to travel to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

The local training not only increases the number of defenders in the Air Force who can receive ESS certification, but also saves the wing $2,000 per graduate in temporary duty assignment costs, said Staff Sgt. Marcus Equevilley, 4th SFS non-commissioned officer in charge of ESS. The course is open to all security forces Airmen who may fill an alarm monitor position or need to set-up an ESS downrange.

The success and cost savings of the Seymour Johnson course led to an expansion in the student base. Pope, Shaw and Langley Air Force Bases can now send their defenders here for the class.

Throughout the course, students learn about different systems, trouble shooting problems and system set-up.

These Airmen are the first line of detection for a base, Equevilley said. "We can't be on every square inch of the fence at one time, so the sensors will alert the system at the (base defense operations center). Here they can see exactly what is out there and have someone respond to visualize the threat or use an assessment device."

The two-week course wraps up with a practical field training exercise.

During the FTX students set-up the BDOC, the assessment devices and a sensor field around the entire perimeter without any instructor help, Equevilley said. When they are done, the instructors test the perimeter to ensure no areas were missed. This way when a student goes out into the field and applies what they learned they know exactly what to do without having someone there to walk them through it.

This is a skill Airman 1st Class Sarah Layton, 4th SFS patrolman, finds valuable.

"Now, basically if I go to a bare base I can set-up and maintain whatever area I'm in charge of," she said.

Layton and her fellow graduates of this Air Force Education and Training Command-supported class receive a 323 special education indicator, which identifies their certification in this course and increases their value as a security forces deployer.

"The most rewarding part of this job is knowing the students will be able to apply this in the AOR without our help (protecting) people from possible threats," Equivilley said.