RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron hosted their annual flight of the year competition throughout April on Kapaun Air Station, Germany.
“Each of our five flights are competing against each other, being evaluated on all their tier skill training, and core combat skills that the career field requires,” said Maj. Tyler Hughes, 569th USFPS commander. “We compile all the information and we grade the best flight, who’s the most proficient in the core security forces skills.”
The members competed using their ability to conduct a rescue operation of a simulated injured pilot while taking fire from opposing forces. Members were also tested on their ability to reassemble firearms, don chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and environmental protective equipment, conduct vehicle searches, and properly fill out paperwork.
“Chief Master Sgt. Michael Miller, the 569th USFPS superintendent, and I recognize that law enforcement gets about 90% of our attention here,” said Hughes. “But we do have core competencies that we have to maintain. This type of competition gives us the opportunity to reinforce that and the importance of paying attention to our security and air base defense skills as well.”
This competition also falls directly in line with the Reconstitute Defender Initiative, a multi-year approach to improve the mission effectiveness across the security forces career field. The RDI was designed to restore readiness, revitalize security forces organizations at all levels, and build a more lethal force in accordance with secretary of defense and secretary of the air force initiatives.
The initiative provided additional training to Airmen in the roles of junior Airmen, noncommissioned officer, and flight chief.
“The technical sergeants and staff sergeants are taking what they learn, pushing their folks throughout the year, and this is the culminating event where they get evaluated on how well they do that,” said Hughes.
“I think they did very well. This gave them a chance to showcase their skills for their flight and their leadership.”
The 569th USFPS leadership was involved throughout the entire competition, from spectating the field portion of the test, to running the two-mile run, to the culmination of tests at the end of the competition.
Charlie Flight took home the win, being the most proficient in their security forces skill training for the 569th USFPS’ flight of the year competition.