What's important for a potential recruit to know about the Air Force Security Forces job?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 23:14:37 -0400

Asking about experiences, daily tasks, pros, cons, and experience for a friend.

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Sep 11 at 2019 8:41 AM

Sgt John Steinmeier — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 08:41:26 -0400

From slick sleeve to E3 be ready for a life of suck postings. 8-12 hours of waving in cars at a gate rain, sleet or shine. On the the plus side a lot more schools now more readily available for Security Forces: Airborne qualification, Ranger School, Raven etc...

Response by 2d Lt Cinthia W. made Sep 11 at 2019 11:11 AM

2d Lt Cinthia W. — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 11:11:20 -0400

It's a good job if you are able to deal with some of the bullsh*t that comes with any career field. It is like a mix of Army Infantry and MP. Depending on the base that you get assigned to, will determine if you focus more on law enforcement or security operations. One of my favorite things about the career field is when we do get to do field training that focuses on Air Base Defense and COIN Ops. If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Sep 11 at 2019 4:25 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 16:25:58 -0400

My daughter was once married to a Security Forces airman. As I recall, you're either Law Enforcement or Security. If you're Law Enforcement, you do about the same job as "street cops" in the civilian world. You patrol the military installation, investigate minor crimes, enforce Federal Laws and local regulations, answer emergency calls for help. The Security airmen are the guards. They guard aircraft, flight lines, some buildings, and the entrance/exit gates. Both sub-specialties qualify with various weapons and train on ground forces tactics. Both sub-specialties routinely carry weapons, wear a badge and blue beret, and work in Air Force combat uniforms. Shift work is normal. Junior enlisted often pull the night shift. Opportunity to be a K-9 handler. Security Forces units or personnel are often deployed to provide security to AF Aircraft or installations overseas. Some airlift missions carry Security Forces personnel with them on missions due to the nature of the cargo or characteristics of certain destinations.

Security Forces specialties should transition nicely to civilian careers in criminal justice, law enforcement, or private security.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2019 11:53 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 11:53:32 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Wooo...almost a loaded question.

I, honestly, enjoyed my time as Security Forces. While I entered back when the fields were separated (Law Enforcement & Security were two distinct arms), they integrated into one another shortly after I graduated Tech School, but before I got to my duty station.

It is, probably, one of the closest AFSCs that the Air Force has that still retains much of the Army heritage (Army Air Forces) in the manner that they are the ground troops of the Air Force. There are many tedious tasks, but they are meant to be for attention to detail, as one would expect from a security force that is providing protection for an installation. It is the least business-like AFSC (outside of SpecOps) that I can think of.

There are long shifts and, as is the normal for law enforcement, 11 hours & 50 minutes of boredom, with 10 minutes of OHCRAPOHCRAPOHCRAPOHCRAP!!!

Deployments are higher, from what I knew of, than other AFSCs, again due to the security of installations aspect. Some say morale is worse. But, as with all jobs, it is what you make of it. When I was in, we were so short-manned that we were taking people who had washed out of services just to fill numbers.