Augment security

Staff Sgt. Gregory Johnson, 51st Medical Squadron dental technician base augmentee, stands guard outside the medical group emergency entrance during a training scenario at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, March 21, 2013. These types of training scenarios are a part of Operational Readiness Exercise Beverly Midnight 13-02 that help Airmen sharpen their skills in case of a real world contingency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Alexis Siekert)

Augment security

Staff Sgt. Thomas McCarthy, 51st Logistics Readiness Squadron Traffic Management Office member and augmentee, helps provide security for the base during a training scenario at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, March 21, 2013 as a part of Operational Readiness Exercise Beverly Midnight 13-02. Osan participates in these exercises so Airmen can demonstrate their capabilities and ability to perform in heightened awareness situations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Alexis Siekert)

Mustangs augment Airmen for base defense

Published March 21, 2013
By Senior Airman Alexis Siekert
51st Fight Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- In times of heightened security, Airmen from all units of the 51st Fighter Wing take on an extremely important role--air base defense. There are more than 200 augmentees assigned across the wing who, whenever activated, are responsible base security.

Many of these augmentees work directly with the 51st Security Forces Squadron, while others provide protection for their specific units.

"Our augmentees are very important," said Staff Sgt. David Wessell, 51st SFS war time planning base defense NCO in charge. "They are a crucial piece of base security. Our job as security forces is hard and we can only be in so many places, so having them as our eyes and ears across Osan is a great help."

To become an augmentee, Airmen must go through a two-day qualification course which covers recognizing the enemy, using radios and tactical movements among other things. They are then required to keep their training up to date with guidance from security forces.

The augmentees perform sweeps, respond to threats and maintain security of their assigned area.

"With everyone as an air base defender working together, we can keep Osan safe," he said.