JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
What comes to mind when you hear someone is a security forces augmentee? Some might think that Airman must be in their respective first sergeant's dog house if they got picked. Others might equate being an augmentee with being some sort of rent-a-cop with no real responsibility or authority. They'd be mistaken.
Security forces augmentees come from all agencies within Joint Base Andrews to serve vital roles not only during large scale events like last year's Nuclear Security Summit and the annual Joint Service Open House, but they are also ready to be called upon in defense of the Joint Base Andrews community if needed.
"The augmentee program allows base officials to secure and defend the base in a time of exigent circumstance, using a trained force of personnel normally not dedicated to that function," said Master Sgt. Eric Marsh, 11th Security Forces Group noncommissioned officer in charge of training. "It is comparable to deputizing a civilian to be in law enforcement in a time of need."
The 11th Security Forces Squadron has a team of experienced instructors that provides the augmentees interactive classroom instruction, briefings and hands on training for everything from weapons firing, Use of Force guidelines, handcuffing and searching procedures, and Self Aid and Buddy Care.
"The responsibility of an augmentee ultimately is to become a force multiplier for Joint Base Andrews," said Staff Sgt. Justin Rush, 11 SFS training instructor. "They will fill posts and work jointly with security forces personnel to increase security measures on Joint Base Andrews. Augmentees are capable of handling and checking credentials for personnel entering the installation, detaining and searching personnel and vehicles, and responding to incidents that may be taking place."
The instructors feel having augmentees come from all corners of Andrews provides for a unique learning environment. Airmen from various career fields training together with 11 SFS personnel is beneficial both during the training course, and long after as well.
"It allows for all of us to be a part of a bigger picture by allowing several different specialty codes to work as one by defending our country," Sergeant Rush said. "We all can learn about each other's career fields and establish contacts with each other that will be beneficial in carrying out our mission."
"For security forces, working with augmentees allows us to interact with other components of the base and ties us closer together," Sergeant Marsh said. "While we are defending the base from real or potential threats, we are interacting with each other and learning about what each other does. We walk away with a better sense of how each other's primary job is important."
So for those who might have thought augmentees don't do anything or that what they train to do isn't important, here's something to keep in mind: those that are chosen to become augmentees work long hours at their respective units and then go home to take care of their families knowing that at any given moment they can be called upon to defend every person on this installation.
"Augmentees are important to this base and to any base because the members of the augmentee force aid and bolster the numbers for security forces at a time when we have emergencies and need security to defend the base and resources," Sergeant Marsh said. "Augmentees, however, aren't guarding someone else's resources or base, they are defending their own base, work center, and their own family. Their training allows them to stand side-by side-with security forces and be a defender in a time of need."