Security Forces Group activates

  • Published
  • By Marie Vanover
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  The unfurling of three different flags and the occasional bark or two from military working dogs signified the reactivation Monday of the 377th Security Forces Group.

Additionally, the 377th Weapons System Security Squadron was activated and the existing 377th Security Forces Squadron was realigned from the 377th Mission Support Group to the new SFG.

Col. Robert L. Maness, 377th Air Base Wing commander, presided as Lt. Col. Jason Beers assumed command of the SFG. Capt. Benjamin Washburn assumed command of the 377 WSSS and 1st Lt. Heather Chaale assumed command of the 377 SFS.

In his remarks, Maness said the activation was two years in the making and "would not only strengthen nuclear and non-nuclear security, but also triple the leadership of the Air Force's largest nuclear security tasking."

"The 600+ Group organizes the unit into a more task-organized unit," said Beers.

Security Forces Defenders at Kirtland protect the 21,000 people who work on the installation. They deploy worldwide and execute the mission of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons system security, physical and information security, integrated base defense, combat arms, law enforcement, antiterrorism, resource protection, military working dogs, and corrections.

The Group was originally constituted on June 1, 1985 and activated on June 14 of the same year at Ramstein Air Base, Germany and was assigned to the 377th Combat Support Wing. Col. Edward H. Martin assumed command of the Group July 13, 1985. The Group was inactivated on May 1, 1991.

During its short history, the Group was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the periods June 14, 1985 to June 13, 1987 and May 1, 1989 to April 30, 1991.