JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
On Sept. 30, Bolling Air Force Base is scheduled to merge with Anacostia Naval Base as part of BRAC to become Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. The Navy will have base operating support responsibilities to include security and law enforcement of this latest joint base. As part of that effort, the 11th Wing could have retired into history. However, the 11 WG's rich history is one that the Air Force leadership wanted to maintain and on the following day, Oct. 1, the 316th Wing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington will reflag as the 11 WG.
As part of the reflagging effort, the 316th Security Forces Squadron will be restructured and re-designated the 11th Security Forces Group. According to Col. David Koontz, commander of the 11 SFG, the "316 SFS had grown in personnel and missions beyond what a single squadron command structure could effectively and efficiently manage. Restructuring into a group with two squadrons and associated group staff allows us to better execute our missions and take care of our personnel and families."
The 11 SFG will consist of two squadrons. The first is the 11th Security Forces Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Greg Anderson. The 11 SFS will be responsible for base law enforcement and installation security. The security mission includes protecting the Air National Guard's 113th Fighter Wing air sovereignty alert mission, Air Mobility Command's reserve 459th Air Refueling Wing tanker alert mission, the 11 WG's helo alert mission, and AMC's 89th Airlift Wing executive fleet of aircraft, which includes "Air Force Two"; the vice president's jet. The 11 SFS force includes 66 contract guards provided by Pinkerton Government Services.
The second squadron is the 811th Security Forces Squadron. The 811 SFS is the executive protection arm of the 11 SFG. The bulk of its manpower protects the non-nuclear PL-1 Air Force One Complex. The unit boasts the largest RAVEN section in the Air Force and provides executive aircraft security for the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of states, first lady, and other cabinet members and flag officers. The last section in the 811 SFS is protective services, commonly called "DV Details" in the group. It too will be the largest of its kind in the Air Force. This section works daily with Secret Service, Department of State Diplomatic Security and other agencies to ensure senior members of the U.S. and foreign governments, to include heads of state, are well protected while they are transiting Joint Base Andrews. Any three-star flag officer and higher is escorted once they enter the base until they reach their destination at Andrews. Due to the sensitive nature and type of the principals they protect, they often receive mission taskings at the last minute. For example, they may find out Friday evening that President Obama wants to golf on Saturday afternoon. They will work closely with the Secret Service to ensure the POTUS can enjoy a safe and secure afternoon of relaxation.
Finally, the group is rounded out with most of the group staff incorporated into a security support flight. This flight will contain the S-4 and S-5 functions as well as the Training and MWD Sections. Leading the flight is Floyd Madrid who serves as the deputy director of the 11 SFS at Bolling until the standup of the joint base and reflagging of the 316 WG.
Billets from the "old" 11 SFS will transfer to the new 11 SFG to backfill unfunded billets and round out the group and squadron staffs. A number of security forces members will remain at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling administratively reporting to the joint base deputy commander and operationally working for Navy security. Through attrition these military billets will be replaced by Navy civilian police paid for by the Air Force.