Are You Good Enough for the Air Force Security Forces?

Air Force Security Specialists Keep the Peace

Air Force photographer and team in sunset
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Members of the Air Force Security Forces (3P0X1) are tasked with providing force protection duties, guarding weapons, air bases and Air Force personnel from possible dangers. 

Security force members are essentially the military police within the Air Force, and the branch's first line of defense. They keep the peace at all Air Force bases and installations around the world. This career field's duties include such things as securing the perimeter of a base, to handling security dogs

This is a career field that could lead to the civilian job of police officer, or other security personnel. 

Duties of Air Force Security Forces

The use of deadly force to protect Air Force personnel and resources are among the serious responsibilities of security forces. They may be called upon to protect nuclear or conventional weapons from hostile forces. Their duties also call for performing life-saving procedures like CPR, when acting as first responders to an accident or disaster situation.

Security forces personnel are also involved with the planning to implement security policies and procedures. They may be called upon to provide oversight and guidance or assistance to commanders, and supervise and train other security forces personnel. This might include inspecting and evaluating the other personnel, and analyzing any resulting reports or statistics. 

Military Working Dog Teams

Another key responsibility of Air Force security forces is the training and use of military working dog teams as part of their daily operations.

They're responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of the dogs, and training the dogs in such things as intruder control and hold training, as well as keeping training records. 

Qualifications for Air Force Security Forces

Security force personnel need normal color vision, and can't have any history of personality disorder.

They must never have been convicted by a general, special, or summary courts-martial, or non-judicial punishment for drug offenses, or other criminal conduct. 

In order to enter the security forces, recruits need to be able to qualify for secret security clearance, and to bear arms under Air Force regulations. They should be able to speak distinctly, and achieve a general score of 33 or better on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam. 

Completion of high school with courses in government, behavioral science, computer, and communicative skills is useful for recruits considering the security forces as their Air Force job. 

Training for Air Force Security Forces

All applicants will undergo training at the Air Force security forces academy at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. During the 65-day course, students will learn basic military police functions, including missile security, convoy actions, capture and recovery of nuclear weapons, law enforcement and directing traffic.

The course also teaches nonlethal tactics, such as using pepper spray and pressure points on a body.

They'll also learn anti-terrorism and law enforcement techniques, and how to be effective in air base defense, armament and equipment, information security and other related skills. 

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