SFS Defenders train to Fight Tonight!

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Boitz
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF KOREA --  Osan Air Base is home to training that can help an Airman survive and operate in war.
The base trains throughout the year to accept follow-on forces and complete the mission under challenging conditions. 

The 51st Security Forces Squadron here carries a majority of the responsibility in ensuring the base is properly defended from its enemies; foreign or domestic.
Upon arrival to Osan, officers and enlisted security forces go through a combat readiness course, or CRC, before being assigned to a flight. The grueling six-day course, designed to get Airmen adjusted to the operating procedures, prepares them for the duties they face on a daily basis. 

"When they come to Osan we have to get everyone on the same page," said Staff Sergeant Michael Huh, non-commissioned officer in charge of the CRC. 

"Our basic fundamentals when we fight wars are to shoot, move and communicate. Without one of those fundamentals, our mission will fail. So we practice those fundamentals with everyone getting on line, shooting, moving and communicating," he said. 

There are three phases of the course: the "Get Tough Phase," the "Get Tactical Phase" and the "Gut Check Phase." Each phase contains a variety of challenges that the class must complete individually and as a team. 

These phases consist of dismounted patrolling; individual and team tactics; live fire exercises; verbal JUDO; defensive tactics; pressure point control tactics; combat self-aid-buddy care; close quarters battle; defensive fighting positions; range cards; tactical communications; operation orders and night-ops. 

Also incorporated into the course is hand-to-hand combat. Each instructor is an Army certified level-I combatives instructor. 

"It's a pretty high speed course. It's pushing my body and mind more than it has been in past training situations," said Senior Airman Anthony Almas. "This is the most intense training I have ever had." 

Each Airman possesses the tools and knowledge to complete the course; however, there are times that students make mistakes. Every mistake costs the Airman and his team push-ups and rigorous exercises. The instructors also engage in the exercises to help motivate their students. 

"Mistakes are made in training, and that is where we want them to be made. We can focus on weak areas so those mistakes aren't made again," Sergeant Huh said. "The course also helps to determine what training should be emphasized on later."
This is also echoed by the students. 

"Knowledge is stressed here. Everyone is expected, and held accountable, to know the same as everyone else," said Airman Almas. 

The crucible is the culmination of the training week, and is a 24-hour field training exercise designed to evaluate the students on what they have learned throughout the week. It consists of numerous scenarios designed to challenge the students both mentally and physically while in a combat stressed environment. 

"We all come from different backgrounds and different locations, but we are expected to fight as a team, no matter how small or large," said Sergeant Huh. "Teamwork is the only way we can carry out our mission."