Air Force reduces number of deployed security forces

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 9:03 a.m.

Air Force officials have reduced the number of security forces needed at deployed locations by 10 percent, allowing more than 200 Nevada airmen to come home earlier than originally planned.

"The adjustment was the result of a manpower assessment and helps reduce the operations tempo for this critically manned career field," said 2nd Lt. Gary Arasin of the 9th Air Force Public Affairs Office at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

Nevada Adjutant General Giles E. Vanderhoof took note of the reduction in light of the activation of National Guard security specialists for the war on terrorism.

"I have been tremendously proud of the Nevada Guard men and women that were called to active duty to help in the U.S. war on terrorism," he said. "A disproportionately large number of these fine Nevadans are employed as law enforcement officers, prison guards and highway patrol officers in Nevada, and this has obviously placed great strain on security organizations in our state.

"My sincere thanks goes out to the families and employers of all activated soldiers and airmen for their unfailing support."

Following the review, officials determined more than 300 additional security positions can be reduced from future air and space expeditionary force deployments.

Technological advances and the findings of an operations review are some of the reasons behind the reductions, said Lt. Col. Troy Robinett, U.S. Central Command air forces' chief of force-protection operations. Guardsmen and reservists currently fill about 95 percent of the reductions identified.

Employers thanked

Employers of those in the Air Reserve component are getting the personal thanks of the service's senior leaders.

Dr. James G. Roche, secretary of the Air Force, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper are sending joint letters and lapel pins to employers of Air National Guardsmen and Air Force reservists in recognition of the sacrifices made in support of the war terrorism.

The Air Force is asking guardsmen and reservists to come forward with information about their civilian employers, as this information is not routinely collected. So far, the Air Force has collected data from more than 34,000 of the country's 190,000 citizen airmen.

"We know that the war on terrorism and the efforts to ensure homeland security have placed a strain on the employers of our Guard and Reserve airmen," said Brig. Gen. Ed Tonini, an activated Kentucky Air National Guardsman working with the Air Force office of public affairs.

In brief