Edwards Airman, provides security, supports honor guard for Southwest Asia unit

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Sturkol
  • 308TH Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  She's thousands of miles away from her hometown of Wichita, Kansas, but Airman Lyndee Bennett is among Airmen who are frontline defenders at deployed air bases worldwide.

Bennett is a security forces journeyman assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. She is deployed from the 95th Security Forces Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Air Force security forces Airmen like Bennett provide the necessary force protection and security for their deployed installation. According to Bennett's Air Force specialty job description, their duties include providing armed response and controlling entry to the base. Security forces also detect and report the presence of unauthorized personnel and activities and they implement security reporting and alerting systems. Also included is enforcing standards of conduct, discipline and adherence to laws and directives.

Specifically for her job, Bennett said, "I control access to pertinent restricted areas and also provide security for all personnel and property assigned to our deployed base."
To do her deployed job, Bennett is also required to maintain knowledge in many areas, the job description shows. Knowledge is mandatory of weaponry, laws, directives, programs, policies and procedures governing security forces activities. They also have to know about installation security, weapon system and resource security, anti-terrorism, law enforcement and investigations, the military working dog function, air base defense, armament and equipment, training and combat arms.

A typical day at work for Bennett includes wearing the latest in "battle rattle." This can include the latest in protective armor and combat-ready gear. Additionally, she'll carry a loaded M-4 rifle, and possibly an M-9 pistol, in carrying out her deployed duties. On any day of at her deployed base, Bennett said she's proud to be able to be deployed and serve in whatever capacity she is called to do for security forces.

"It is an important duty to serve even in the smallest capability to the mission - supporting and protecting those who not only fight but support those who fight in the combat areas," said Bennett, a three-year veteran of the Air Force.

Bennett also volunteers for the deployed base honor guard. As a member of the all-volunteer honor guard, she supports official functions and ceremonies on base and practices for this events in her limited off-duty time. It's an effort she said she does to honor those she serves with while deployed and throughout the military.

"It makes me proud to honor those who have fallen," Bennett said. "I am proud to be a part of such an amazing group of people who have such a dedication to honor."

The 380th ESFS is a sub-unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The 380th AEW is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The wing supports Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and Operation Enduring Freedom.