KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- One of the Department of the Air Force’s roles in the National Defense Strategy is to provide global vigilance. Global vigilance can be described as the ability to gain and maintain awareness anywhere, provide warning to others, analyze and breakdown information from adversaries and communicate the data received to other agencies.
To have global vigilance, local vigilance must be practiced. At Keesler, the 81st Security Forces Squadron fulfills their responsibility of local vigilance in a number of ways.
“The mission for every defender is to protect Airmen and their families,” said Capt. Ryan Standish, 81st Security Forces Squadron operations officer. “It’s extremely important that we complete our mission because we secure base resources and the personnel that carry out the 81st Training Wing’s mission.”
Through 24-hour base security, gate ID checks, and random anti-terrorism measures, the Airmen in security forces ensure the base populace is safe and secure at all times.
“In order for the base to fully function, they need me to do my job,” said Senior Airman Leonard Brown, 81st SFS police services lead. “Myself, like the other Airmen around me, are all vital pieces to the bigger picture. We show up every day ready to work. We know we can’t be complacent.”
Knowing that he is one of the lifelines that keeps the base secure, Brown said he must approach his job with ingenuity and resilience.
“Being detail-oriented, staying vigilant, and having situational awareness at all times is necessary,” said Brown. “No matter when and where something goes down, we’re ready to respond.”