Falcon Flight--law enforcement soars to new heights Published July 31, 2008 By Airman 1st Class David Salanitri Keesler Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- The 81st Security Forces Squadron has taken force protection, community relations and being "green" to a new level. The squadron now has a terrain-defying, eco-friendly patrol team that uses bicycles, all-terrain vehicles and boats to get the job done. Due to rising prices at the pump, creating a "greener" force was part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, said Staff Sgt. Douglas Wickline, 81st SFS Falcon Flight team chief. "Not only are we using units that require less gas, but we're able to send more units out on patrol, giving the base wider, yet more comprehensive security," said Sergeant Wickline. Units cover the entire installation at all times, including security forces members assigned to base housing 24/7. The results have been positive, Sergeant Wickline said. "Now that we have members out on bikes and not always in cars, it gives the security forces members more opportunities to get to know the members of the community they patrol," Sergeant Wickline added. In addition, these terrain-defying teams can be more effective than traditional patrol units because of their maneuverability, resulting in a quicker response time, according to Sergeant Wickline. "It's a very common occurrence that a Falcon Flight member is the first responder to a situation or accident," said Sergeant Wickline. There's a lot of training involved to become a member of the all-volunteer patrol team. Even though most people learn how to ride a bike at a young age, Flacon Flight members learn tactical bike maneuvers for various conditions and types of terrain. "Before we could go on duty, we had to attend training on how to operate our bike, get licensed in boat operations and all-terrain vehicle training," said Staff Sgt. Casey Sims, 81st SFS Falcon Flight member.