Columbus AFB Security Forces hosts training with local law enforcement

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  Columbus Air Force Base Security Forces hosted a law enforcement training seminar with local law enforcement agencies, here, Feb. 22. The seminar included four different training scenarios to help defenders and their law enforcement counterparts share tactics and personal experiences.

"It's a great opportunity for us to get together and share information back and forth," said Maj. Brenton Pickrell, 14th Security Forces Squadron Commander. "We are engaging in some training with all of our local counterparts and we are learning from each other today."

The four training scenarios the Defenders designed were to help law enforcement perfect their weapon, communication, and other tactics.

"We have a firing simulation course, a shoot and move communication course, an active shooter incident response course and a wood line training course that we designed for today's exercises," said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Strouse, 14th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge.

Law enforcement agencies have enjoyed taking advantage of any training opportunities available to them. When multiple agencies come together it gives them the unique opportunity to stay up to date with their local counterpart's tactics.

"Just like anything else, if you're not training you're not trying," said Andy Round, Starkville Police Department officer. "We have got to stay up to date with everything we have going on, and training opportunities like this help a lot."

This is the first time Columbus AFB Security Forces has had the opportunity to hold a law enforcement seminar like this but hope it isn't the last. "We hope to do more in the future, coordination with the community is very important," said Strouse. "We would like to unsure that we have a good working relationship with our law enforcement counterparts."

Coordination between local law enforcement and Columbus AFB Defenders is vital to the mission, especially if a scenario where law enforcement agencies would have to integrate and work together.

"We want to stress the fact that we are part of the community," said Pickrell. "Your community is our community. We aren't just here for a short time before moving on. This is home to us too. Any event that impacts anybody, impacts us all. Anything we can do to help out, we are more than willing."