65th Security Forces Squadron practice combatives

Members of the 65th Security Forces Squadron practice combatives while Chief Dennis Vannorsdall, 3rd Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. (far left), looks on with other SFS members during a pre-TDY training at Lajes Field, Oct. 12, 2010. Combative training techniques are useful to military members when in hand-to-hand combat. This specialized training includes verbal judo and self-defense. (U. S. Photo by Guido Melo)

65th Security Forces Squadron

Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Vannorsdall, 3rd Air Force command chief master sergeant, conducts an NCO forum with Team Lajes non-commissioned officers at the base theater Oct. 12, 2010. The enlisted call was designed to allow Chief Vannorsdall to hear from the enlisted members so he can advise leadership at the 3rd Air Force. (Photo by Guido Melo)

SFS Airmen train for the fight

Published Oct. 15, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Chyrece Campbell
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

LAJES FIELD, Azores -- Members from the 65th Security Forces Squadron provide security, antiterrorism, and force protection for Lajes Field, enabling airpower for all U.S. and allied forces.

To provide these services 65th SFS members must always be ready for the fight by staying up-to-date with training. This constant readiness allows security forces members to be ready for real-world responses and short-notice deployments.

Several SFS members are currently completing a pre-temporary duty training consisting of firing requalification, deployed location weapons and combatives for an upcoming TDY.

"Whenever you get ready to go into any environment you need to not just re-familiarize yourself with basic force protection but you also need to learn the conditions of the local environment," said Staff Sgt. Eric Tabb, 65th Security Forces Squadron Operations Alpha flight chief.

With SFS members in the fight with a 1-to-1 deployment band, it has them deployed more than half the year with only about an average of 4-6 month dwell time at their home station before going back out for 180-day deployment.

"It is hard being a SFS member with the deployment rates, but I love my job and what I stand for. The base populace and mission capabilities are contingent of me doing my job and doing it right," added Sergeant Tabb.

The SFS motto is 'defensor fortis,' which means defenders of the force.

The 65th SFS members are the defenders of the force for Lajes Field, enabling Lajes to faciliate expeditionary forces through continuous operation of an essential en route support base for worldwide deployments of U.S. and allied forces.