Defenders Den gives Security Forces Airmen an online workspace

  • Published
  • By Jim Fisher
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Most Security Forces members do not spend their duty time in an office setting, with computer access and ample opportunity to accomplish administrative requirements. Moreover, these "defenders" cover long shifts from guard mount to guard mount, leaving no time for tasks not directly connected to patrolling and securing the installation, its people and resources.

For defenders needing to knock out a few computer-based training modules, or to access the Air Force portal and other resources contained on secure networks, the only option is often to add more time at the end of their shift and seek out an open computer in an administrative area.

Recognizing the need to give SFS members other options which provide more flexibility led leadership in the 377th Security Forces Group to create the Defenders Den.

Located in the Security Forces complex in Building 20222, where many defenders live and work, the Den provides a 24-7 access point for government-networked computers, reading materials and entertainment-related CDs and DVDs.

"With access via the Defenders Den, Airmen don't have to worry about going into duty areas in their off time to catch up on training," said Capt. Doug Dinkins, the officer in charge of the group's security support section. "This gives them the flexibility to accomplish these things on their own time instead of keeping them (on duty) even longer at the end of their shifts."

The area boasts new workstations with networked computer resources, several shelves full of books, CDs and DVDs and study tables. Its inception was the product of group leadership wanting to utilize space that was unoccupied and to provide access to resources outside the course of their normal duty schedules and locations, according to Tech. Sgt. James Repasky, the NCOIC of systems administration for the group and one of the defenders who played a key role in setting up the Den.

"We received a lot of help from other agencies on base to make this happen. The 377th Communications Squadron was really helpful in getting us set up with (local area network) access and the library was also really helpful getting us the books and bookshelves," Repasky said.
Additional reading materials were taken from a confinement area no longer in use, according to Master Sgt. Andy Moran, security support superintendent, and other agencies provided furniture, giving Security Forces members a place to work away from work.

"Our learning resources center is located on the west side of the base and additional resources are far away from our dormitories," Moran said. "In addition, those computer resources (in duty areas) are often in use. So if you are done with your shift, or if you have some extra time, you can come here to get things done."

Airman 1st Class Amaris Woracek-Graham agreed that access was needed and appreciated.

"It's helpful because there are a lot of resources here and other things defenders can do in their off time, whether it's working on (career development courses) or other things Airmen can do to better themselves," she said. "Your personal computer is not a government computer and so you don't have network access to access things like (the Automated Distributive Learning System) or a lot of the other resources out there."