Security forces continues to keep Team BLAZE safe

Senior Airman Anthony Parsons, 14th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Instructor, inspects a weapon Feb. 24 on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. Columbus AFB defenders play a huge role in keeping both personnel and aircraft safe so the mission of producing pilots never has to stop. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Lile)

Security forces continues to keep Team BLAZE safe

Defenders tackle a suspect to the ground after he refused to get back into his vehicle and was demonstrating aggressive behavior during an exercise March 13 on Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. The suspect tried to run and evade the defenders but was quickly chased down. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Daniel Lile)

Security forces continues to keep Team BLAZE safe

Published March 19, 2015
By Airman Daniel Lile
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Whether you see security forces coming through one of the gates or passing you in a patrol car, they are constantly defending the entire Columbus Air Force Base installation.

Without their support, the mission would not be possible.

"We protect, defend and provide police services to enable mission success at home and abroad," said Maj. Brenton Pickrell, 14th Security Forces Squadron Commander. "We provide dedicated, adapted and battle ready defenders committed to excellence throughout the spectrum of military operations."

Defenders ensure laws are upheld while on the installation, varying from traffic violations to criminal investigations.

"We enable commanders to make better decisions by informing them about misconduct and bad behavior and verifying that people are following the rules that they should be following," Pickrell said. "When they are not we hand it over to their commander so they can carry-out whatever actions need to be done."

One common misconception to some Airmen about defenders is they only check identification cards at the base gates.

"The place everyone sees most security forces personnel is at the gate, but we also defend the entire installation," Pickrell said. "We do perimeter checks, patrols and coordinate through our Emergency Control Center to respond to anything varying from active shooter to something happening at any particular location including domestic violence."

Columbus AFB defenders play a huge role in keeping both personnel and aircraft safe so the mission of producing pilots never has to stop.

"We protect the base every day whether that is at the gate doing random anti-terrorism measures, on the roads or actively going around the perimeter of the gate making sure there are no deficiencies," said Airman 1st Class Evan Narred, 14th SFS Armorer and Patrolman.

Security forces are not only responsible for keeping equipment and personnel safe, also they are charged with defending Airmen and their families.

"People have family on this base," Narred said. "I have a family on this base; it's our duty to protect them."