Security forces changes for AFSO21

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Changes are in the works at the 377th Security Forces Squadron -- and that's exactly what Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century is all about. AFSO21 is the name given to improvement initiatives mandated by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Mosely and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne.

1st Lt. Tom Griffy, security forces officer in charge of security operations, says AFSO21 for security forces means taking personnel out of a "Cold War mentality." Lieutenant Griffy says the biggest difference in the change of mentalities is that security forces will have a smaller, better trained force for maneuver warfare. Cold War tactics called for personnel to wait for the enemy to approach, while new tactics call for a more aggressive and active defense.

Lieutenant Griffy says that the idea of Col. John R. Boyd helped to initiate the changes in maneuver tactics. Colonel Boyd devised a tactic called "Observe, Orient, Decide, Act," which is commonly called the OODA Loop. The concept of the OODA Loop is that the key to victory is to construct situations where decisions can me made faster than the enemy can. The OODA Loop concept effects the ground war tremendously, and it modifies approaches in the Global War on Terrorism and counter-insurgency.

Lieutenant Griffy also said security forces is looking into reducing the size of the squads. He says a reduction in squad size is not finalized; it is only an option.

At this point, he says, security forces realizes that because of safety issues, there is only so much reduction that can take place.

Security forces has four flights that are operational at any given time, but recently a fifth flight was implemented to train on close-quarter training tactics.

Lieutenant Griffy says the new training and change in tactics allows Airmen to be more qualified to perform duties "outside the wire." He said it also means that personnel are doing more special functions for combat operations.

Although the changes have not been finalized, the lieutenant said current training is already showing improvements in the new tactics. "It's in very early stages, but it's already working," he said. "In the flight that just returned from training, we saw 110 percent improved tactics. I would feel very comfortable leading them into battle."

AFSO21 initiatives will continue to be seen across the Air Force as continuous improvements are made.