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SF allows Team Shaw to sleep soundly

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexandria Mosness
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The southern heat mixed with the high relative humidity has many staying indoors to beat the temperatures, but Airmen of the 20th Security Forces Squadron do not have this option, as they face the ups and downs of temperatures throughout the year protecting Team Shaw and its assets.

The weather is only one thing the Security Forces Airmen face, but it has not stopped the passion to serve.

"I've played cops and robbers ever since I was 5-years old and never grew out of it," said Staff Sgt. Adam Sacchetti, 20th SFS patrolman. "The (phrase) 'to protect and serve' is something, although cliché, I live and abide by - it really means something to me. There is a simple satisfaction I get from helping someone out or responding to an incident and really making a difference in someone's life."

The security forces career field has a few different focuses; one of those is military working dog handling.

"My job here is to manage the approximately eight dog teams we have," said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Mier, 20th SFS kennel master. "At Shaw, we use two types of dogs, the German Shepherd and the Belgian Malinois. Our teams are trained in patrol, drug and explosive detection."

The job of the kennel master is making sure the teams have the proper resources and figuring out duty schedules, but some of the best times are watching the teams mold each other, he said.

"Getting to work with dogs is a unique experience," Mier reiterated. "Watching a brand new handler and canine come together is a great thing to watch. At first the dog and trainer are tripping and running into each other, but then after they get comfortable with each other, you see the magic happen."

But, a team does not come together without the hard work.

"The handlers have a minimum of four hours each shift training with the dog," he said. "So, when the team does get deployed, they are more comfortable with each other in the real-world setting."

The kennel master tries to keep the dog teams together, he said.

"We try and not switch up the teams," Mier added. "The trainer and dog must have a strong rapport."

While the job of a dog handler takes a lot of hard work, Mier wouldn't have it any other way, the 16-year veteran said.

"When it comes down to it, we get money to play with dogs," Mier said.

With the high operations tempo and deployments, the leadership of the SFS offers many activities to take the pressure off the Airmen.

"The new commander is very concerned about his Airmen," said Senior Master Sgt. Ellen Jones, 20th SFS operations superintendent. "We have a booster club called the Defender's Association that is currently putting on Christmas in July. We have a deployed wives group, and we do a lot of cookouts as well. The commander is very adamant on Airmen resiliency, especially after deployments. Our senior leadership visits the Airmen to get feedback on what we can do to makes things better."

While everyone must find a way to deal with the stress of the job, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marrero, 20th SFS NCOIC of training, said it's always easier when you are not the only one experiencing it.

"Operations tempo is something you grow to deal with as a security forces member; you have to find that comfortable medium," he said. "You are taught as a young Airman that it is the nature of the job. It is what is instilled inside of you from day one at technical school. Each person has their own way of coping with the pressure and strain; however, it is easier to deal with when you can look to your right and left, and see that the person beside you is going through the same strain as you."

But Marrero wanted to make sure, the Airmen knew where to draw the line on when to get help.

"When the tempo gets too high we rely heavily on the supervisor and flight sergeants to let us know, he added. "They are the eyes and ears, and quite frankly they are the professionals. Without them I wouldn't have a job."

The SFS relies a lot on their leadership, but they also count on their Airmen to make the correct moves.

"This is a thankless job and a very challenging career field, but you have to do the right thing even when no one is watching," Jones said. "For you to be successful in this career field, you have to set the example and be the well- rounded Airman."

The SFS also wanted to remind those entering base, there are set procedures.

"The job is not personal," said Marrero. "No one is targeted, nor do security forces look to make an example of anyone."

Jones had a few tips for those entering base to make the process easier.

"Don't roll your window down just a little because of weather conditions," she said. "Remember those at the gates are there in the rain and shine enforcing base entry. Pull out your ID, present and press on. It's simple. Why make it harder? We are here to protect them. Let's make it smoothly."

Something as a simple a thank you at the gate goes a long way to show appreciation, said Jones.

"When it is 95 degrees out with a heat index of 105, those security forces men and women are wearing an extra ten to 15 pounds of gear," Marrero added. "They don't always get holidays off, and they miss a lot of birthdays and special occasions. They have one of the highest deployment rates in the military, but they still have a job to do. They are a proud group of men and women and put a lot of their personal and professional time into ensuring that personnel on any Air Force base are safe and ensure no matter what the obstacles the mission always gets accomplished."