Security forces hands over the reins

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  As members of team Moody drive through the base gates, they may wonder what happened to the security forces members they have come to see.

Manning at the gates will be switching from the 23rd Security Forces Squadron to Department of the Air Force security guards by the end of this month.

"This switch will be a huge boost to our Air Force mission," said Capt. Justin Secrest, 23rd SFS commander. "It will give us the chance to free up our Airmen and get them trained and ready to deploy."

The 23rd SFS began manning the gate a few months ago to help with a change that was happening Air Force-wide, while the civilian position on Moody switched from contractors to Department of the Air Force security guards.

"The Air Force came out and said that there cannot be a contractor in the security guard position," said David Plumb, 23rd SFS supervisory police officer. "So the contract was canceled and changed to a Department of the Air Force contract."

According to the security guards, they will be resuming the same duties as before which included manning the gates and working the "search pit.

"The guards have to go through a physical training test and receive their weapons qualification to be considered for this position," said Mr. Plumb.

Most of the guards were once prior military or worked guarding Moody's gate before the contract changed. So it's no surprise that Mr. Sean Neilly, Department of the Air Force security guard, who has five years of experience working at Moody's gate, is glad to be back.

"I worked the gate before the switch to the Department of the Air Force," he said. "Seeing all the people coming through the gate again is a real treat. It's great to be back to work."