JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
As foreign officials of more than 25 countries arrived at Joint Base Andrews, a temporary unit comprised of several teams processed members from each country's delegation through Hangar 3.
The more than 27 Airmen assigned were responsible for ensuring that delegation members remain in the controlled areas while U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers process their information. They also facilitated any other needs of the members and communicated with other aspects of the Nuclear Security Summit operations.
"Our role as Security Forces members and augmentees is to make sure that personnel from each delegations who enter the hangar remain in the sanctioned control areas," said Airman Kara Raduenz, 316th Security Forces Squadron member.
Communication with other operations was also a large part of the H3 team's mission.
"Our job is in part to maintain contact with other key operations such as air field operations and the distinguished visitor's lounge," said Staff Sgt. Krystle Archer, 779th Medical Support Squadron member and Hangar 3 team member. "We communicate when members of each delegation have completed their processing through the CBP officers, we facilitate any escorts delegation members may require, as well as make sure that they remain in the established control areas."
Team Andrews members, working jointly in Hangar 3, also collaborated closely with members of the CBP. This joint task force has worked diligently to ensure that the lines of communication remain open between personnel.
"We also communicate with the CBP officers regularly," said Staff Sgt. Shelenn Wilson, 316th Wing command chief's executive and Hangar 3 day shift NCO in charge. "If we know something they don't, we are sure to tell them and vice versa. If they don't know something, and we don't have the answer, we get it. Communication is key in this hangar."
Maintaining this open communication between all members of the H3 team builds a relationship with supporting forces.
"Joint Base Andrews members are doing a great job," said Eric Derouen, CBP senior officer, who has been stationed at the PAX terminal for more than 17 years. "Everybody is working as a team with good communication - couldn't do it better."
Augmentees were also members of the H3 team, adding to the bulk of the security forces essential to the support mission.
"The teamwork and coordination between augmentee security forces members and the other members of the Hangar 3 team has been going well," said Airman Jessica Bowen, 316th Force Support Squadron career development representative and security forces augmentee entry controller. "As augmentees, we've been able to learn a lot about a job that we don't normally do."
Joint Team Andrews members recognize that seamlessly integrating with interagency partners to orchestrate a world class operation is vital to mission success.
"All members including our augmentee forces have been doing a great job," said Senior Airman Devin Poldoson 316th Mission Support Group knowledge operations specialist assigned to Hangar 3 operations. "Without their support, we wouldn't have been able to complete the mission."
Working together - inside the hangar and with other NSS support units - was key to what 316 WG vice commander Col. Lee dePalo called "the ultimate team effort" that led to "the successful execution of this historic event."