Guardians at the gate

  • Published
  • By Danny Monahan
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Every day and night, 377th Security Forces Squadron guards are on duty guarding entry at Team Kirtland's gates.

"It may not be the most glamorous job, but we have these brave Airmen out here every day in the rain, sleet, snow and heat of the day acting as the first line of defense for the base," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Ruch, 377th Security Forces Squadron.

As an SFS NCO, Ruch ensures proper procedures are followed and Force Protection Conditions are observed at all gates.

Monday through Friday, hundreds of cars line up at Kirtland Air Force Base's gates. One at a time, drivers present their military or government identification to an Airman acting as the base's first line of defense.

"Kirtland gate guards are the face of the base," said Ruch. "The guards are the first thing people see each day upon entering the base, so it is vital we make a favorable impression."

"While checking identifications throughout the day, we do see a bit of weird stuff," said Ruch. "Sometimes people walk up to the gate, demanding to speak to the commander or a foreign national with no paperwork who wants to tour the base. Some people tend to get argumentative during those moments when you are telling them it's not possible for them to see the commander or tour the base today."

Especially during those instances, Airmen need to maintain proper bearing and discipline, he said.

"It's difficult to do your job when someone is giving you a hard time, but you have to remember to maintain your professionalism while still trying to help a person," said Senior Airman Talva Wilson, 377 SFS.

Although rare, a job hazard gate guards have to be on the lookout for at all times is gate runners.

"With gate runners, you have to be on your toes," said Ruch. "You have to be able to quickly identify who ran the gate. Was it an elderly woman with base access who just didn't stop, or was it a drunk driver? You have to act quickly and decide whether you are going to send a chase vehicle after the gate runner or hit the button to activate the barrier."

At the contractor gate, in addition to checking drivers' identifications, SFS Airmen search the vehicles extensively. When trucks pull up to the gate, drivers step out of their vehicles and are escorted to a small, non-descript black building with no windows.

"We do this so they cannot see what we are searching," said Senior Airman Brianna Thompson, 377 SFS. "SFS uses everything from under-vehicle security mirrors to military working dogs to search vehicles."

One of the most useful tactics SFS Airmen have at their disposal is good police work, said Ruch.

"Our guards find a lot of contraband from being observant and looking for anything out of the ordinary. They know if there is an area of a vehicle that doesn't quite look right, to go to that spot. It can be as subtle as one area being cleaner than another, and having the smarts to inspect that area further."

New Airmen learn many security forces basics in technical school, such as protecting people, property and resources, augmented by on-the-job training when they arrive at Kirtland AFB.

"New SFS Airmen have to pass our phase one training, where we teach them how to properly search a vehicle, handcuff an individual and how to implement use of force and less than-lethal force," said Ruch. "Only after they have completed their phase one training, are they able to carry a firearm and are gate-certified."