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Tyndall cops head back to Iraq in force for detainee operations

  • Published
  • By Capt. J. Elaine Hunnicutt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 325th Security Forces Squadron is headed back to the fight again this time with an unprecedented amount of troops to support detainee operations in Iraq. 

Tyndall has Airmen assigned to both Iraq and Afghanistan at all times, but security forces are deployed more than any other organization on Tyndall AFB. However, this time they will contribute more than 50 percent of their team in the coming months to missions around the world. 

Tyndall Airmen are filling positions on the battlefield traditionally held by their Army counterparts. 

"Team Tyndall has stepped up to the challenge," said Maj. Paul Quigley Jr., 325th Security Forces Squadron commander. 

The Air Force has been actively involved at all levels of the fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom from the beginning. 

"Our Airmen will help the Army fill positions they cannot currently man," said the major. "Airmen are now being trained for 'in lieu of,' or as it is commonly referred to as ILO, duties such as: detainee operations, convoy operations and combat arms." 

The 'in lieu of' positions augment the Army and are often assigned to an Army chain of command. 

"It is truly a joint battlefield, and we are serving with the Army to accomplish the mission," said Major Quigley. 

The specific nature of the mission is detainee operations; however, the team must remain flexible to fill in where needed. 

"Once in country, we will take the fight to the enemy," said Capt. Darren Stastny, 325th Security Forces anti-terrorism officer. "We will be prepared for our mission, whatever it may be." 

The teams will operate alongside their Army counterparts once they arrive in country. 

"The benefit of working with other services is that each takes the best attributes from the others and incorporates them into the way they do business," said the commander. "It's a great opportunity to learn from one another, and better our service as a whole." 

"I'm just looking forward to deploying side-by-side with the other services," said Tech. Sgt. Chad Jenkins, 325th Security Forces patrolman. "And I am looking forward to joining the fight." 

The team is ready to take on these new challenges, and they will enter Iraq with the skill sets needed to be successful and return home safely. They will attend almost two months of Army Combat Skills Training and training specific to detainee operations before they leave the states. They will also receive additional training in theater before actually entering Iraq. The 'theater' includes a multitude of countries in Southwest Asia. 

"My job as the team leader is to help our Airmen prepare for our upcoming deployment," said Jenkins. "The best part of my job is helping our guys get ready, and to deploy with them as one team."