JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Look for a new group of "boys in blue" on Joint Base Andrews. As of October this year, the contract with the Pinkerton security ended and Andrews began the process of training new Air Force civilian police.
"Though Congress had prohibited the use of security guard contracts by the Department of Defense since 1983, after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 Congress allowed the services to temporarily use contracts," said Mat Matecko, HQ AF Security Forces Plans and Programs at the Pentagon. "By law, the Air Force began phasing out contracts and converting to GS term employees in 2007, and must terminate all contracts this fiscal year. The Joint Base Andrews contract ended a few weeks ago."
According to Matecko, the Air Force manages its security forces manning based on need in respect to the mission on a particular base. When a large number of security personnel deploy the base security mission doesn't stop. That's where the Air Force civilian police members come in to place.
"Our tax for deployment can be nearly 100 security forces officers at one time. Based on that, we could hire department of the Air Force civilian police accordingly," said Joseph Rector, 11th Security Forces Group deputy director.
Unlike the previous contracted security officers whose primary duty was to guard the gates, these officers are trained to perform all security forces duties.
"The training consists of a 5-week, in-house course which covers Andrews-specific training by the 11th Security Forces Group. Upon completion, they go to the Veteran's Administration Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Ark., for an additional 4-week of general police training," said Matthew Snyder, 11 SFS supervisory police officer.
The Air Force civilian police must also meet other standards to include a compatibility test, medical screening and a physical readiness test.
"This change enhances our capabilities so we are getting police officers rather than security guards," said Matecko.
For more information about the Air Force Civilian police force, see Air Force Instruction (AFI) 31-283.