Police Week offers glimpse into Centurion Ethos

  • Published
  • By Ashley M. Wright
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Airmen, Defender and Centurion. Nearly 270 personnel at the 325th Fighter Wing serve as all three.

"We are Airmen serving and protecting Airmen and their families," said Maj. Anthony McCarty, 325th Security Force Squadron commander. "Our job can be a thankless one when you are standing on the gates and checking IDs or providing security for the flight line. These men and women are performing with excellence each and every day. In many cases, as the unsung heroes out there."

The 325th SFS encompasses a unique culture to instill pride in those that serve in the unit. May 13-17, Police Week, Team Tyndall will be able to get to know the men and women who create that centurion culture.

"Security forces have always been known as defenders and we still carry that ethos. That is what we pride our entire career field on," Major McCarty said.

Tyndall security forces take the defender mindset to another level.

"Here at the 325th because we are a fighter base, we wanted to develop an ethos that symbolizes our professionalism much like a fighter community does. That is where the Centurions came from. Centurion means the professional soldier, the consummate warrior who is an expert in all of their skills," the major said.

The squadron deploys the centurion mindset in every aspect in their mission of defending Tyndall.

"The centurion is our theme that is the driving force behind the squadron," Major McCarty said. "Always forward is our battle cry, but really what that means is we are continuously striving for excellence. We use that centurion ethos to continue to build on the skill set of being an excellent defender."

The mindset is extended to the families of security forces members as well.

"When a member comes into the squadron, we explain what the ethos is and what it represents to us as a squadron-that professional Airmen and we also extend that out to the families as well, as they are as responsible for our success as the members themselves," Major McCarty said.

The centurions on Tyndall consist of nearly 40 civilians, three officers and a 230-member enlisted force ranging in ranks from airman basic to chief master sergeant.

"People see the patrol cars, they see the gates and think that is the vast majority of what security forces does," Major McCarty said. "We also have a plans and programs section that is responsible for over 53 different plans that surround the security of the installation as well as our resources, logistics and personnel offices."

The squadron also has a Intelligence Fusion Cell that examines threats, vulnerabilities and efforts to mitigate them, the major added. 

Another highly visible unit on Tyndall is the military working dogs.

"We have nine dogs and handlers with a trainer and kennel master. They are the linchpin of our narcotics and explosive detection," Major McCarty said.

Another familiar sight to Tyndall residents is the officers in the white shirts, or the community police section. While these officers regularly patrol the streets of base housing, they also patrol the wooded areas of Tyndall on ATVs and the coastlines on boats.

"From the shoreline to 500 feet out in the water, we have concurrent jurisdiction. Our community police members are actively patrolling in our watercrafts ensuring the safety of residents and resources of the base," Major McCarty said.

The centurion mission extends beyond the gates of Tyndall as security forces remain in high demand for deployments.

"We have a tremendous deployment operations tempo," said the major. "The supply and logistics section is single handedly responsible for making sure they are equipped when our folks go out the door, down range to execute the mission."

To learn more about the 325th SFS, a Police Week retreat will be held at the youth center May 17 from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. All are invited to meet the centurions of the 325th SFS and local law enforcement departments from around the Bay County area.