Grissom cops are tops in command

Published April 26, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Facing the dangers of a cold war and nuclear holocaust President John F. Kennedy stated in his inaugural address, "in the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it."

And, though they live and serve in a different time, the men and women of the 434th Security Forces Squadron here at Grissom have taken on that same mantle of responsibility in times that could be deemed equally as dangerous.

Such responsibility and willingness to face danger for the sake of freedom are keystones to the package that won the unit the title of Air Force Reserve Command Security Forces Outstanding Unit for 2011.

"Each year the Air Force selects a (national) guard unit of the year, a reserve unit of the year, and a small, medium and large (regular Air Force) unit of the year," explained Maj. Christopher Witter, 434th SFS commander. "This year we were the top reserve security forces unit in all of the Air Force."

Being responsible for the protection of over 1,500 personnel, and a fleet of KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft and one of only five Air Force Reserve Command bases helped propel the 434th SFS to the top of the list.

"We didn't start out the year saying this year we're going to try to win this award," said Witter. "We just did the job, took on the challenges that came at us, executed and submitted the (award) package -- We just did what we always do."

Going beyond the Grissom fence line, 434th SFS Airmen were called upon to protect U.S. and allied servicemembers, aircraft, bases and military leaders around the world including President Barack Obama and the now retired Gen. David Petraeus during his tenure as NATO's International Security Assistance Force commander.

In total, 434th SFS personnel were deployed around the globe for more than 3,400 days in support of operations such as Enduring Freedom. During these many deployments, the security forces Airmen responded to direct and indirect fire including rocket and ground attacks while insuring there were no U.S. or allied casualties.

"That's the way these guys operate; they operate at a higher level than a lot of the people in the Air Force," said Witter. "They look at things with a broader view point and they can process things faster."

The unit didn't just garner notoriety for its service abroad. 434th SFS Airmen were equally committed on the home front as they held a National Police Week educational fair for over 500 local students, provided training for local law enforcement agencies and volunteered over 1,000 hours in the local community.

While the many accomplishments mentioned above helped secure the prestigious award for the 434th SFS, Witter said one of the unit's greatest accomplishments is its commitment to its people.

"You're not just part of the unit two days a month, you're part of the unit 365 days a year," elaborated the major, referring to the two days each month traditional reservists must serve as part of their commitment. "The senior (noncommissioned officers) and junior NCOs have a lot of impact and are very forward leaning in taking care of things."

That fact is something Witter said he relishes about his time as the 434th SFS commander.

"This unit's different...I give them a task and they run with it," he explained. "They know when to come back and ask for guidance, and they know how to prioritize, but a lot of time I'll get an e-mail on something and it's already been taken care of -- They're easy to lead, they're really easy to lead."

Despite their high levels of success, awards and achieving perfection have not been goals of the security forces unit.

"Excellence is not a destination, it's a state of mind, and that's the way we do things," said Witter. "Perfection is mind-numbing and pointless -- you don't arrive at excellence, you strive for it.

"I knew we were in the running and it didn't change what we did," he added. "I think our guys are the best, and I would happily bump our package up against any other unit's."

The 434th SFS is part of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135 unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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Grissom cops are tops in command

Grissom cops are tops in command

Public Affairs Staff