TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --
An Air Force vulnerability assessment team conducted a week-long antiterrorism vulnerability assessment April 21 through 25 at Tyndall.
The Headquarters Air Force Security Forces Center's, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, mission is to organize, train and equip Air Force security forces members worldwide. It also develops the force protection doctrine, programs and policies by planning and programming resources to execute the missions of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons system security, physical and information security, integrated base defense, combat arms, law enforcement, antiterrorism, resource protection and corrections. Additionally, it identifies and delivers emergent and future force protection and force application solutions through modeling and simulation.
"We are here to assist the installation commander and staff by reviewing installation plans, interviewing representatives from various functional areas and observing daily operations," said John Denn, HQ AFSFC deputy chief of integrated defense.
HQ AFSFC conducts vulnerability assessments on approximately 20 Air Force installations annually.
"The main goal of the assessment is to take a look at vulnerabilities, by outside subject matter experts, to the installation's mission and how those vulnerabilities contribute to risk," said Mike Messersmith, AFSFC emergency management chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive specialist.
The nine-man team that came to Tyndall interviewed different units. With seven SMEs, each member was assigned different functional areas based on their expertise.
"Each installation is required to conduct a local vulnerability assessment annually, and must receive a higher headquarters assessment every three years," said Bernard Lawson, EM CBRNE specialist.
Most current team members have well over 100 assessments under their belt, said Denn.
"We try to give low-cost or no-cost solution to mitigate vulnerabilities," said Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Sprauer, Air Force vulnerability assessment team manager. "We often recommend techniques and procedures that can be employed as mitigation efforts to reduce risks, which require minimal costs to the base. We also highlight examples being conducted at other installations that may benefit the assessed unit."