RAF shares knowledge with 820th SFG

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman S.I. Fielder
  • 347th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Three members from the Royal Air Force are touring the 820th Security Forces Group here this month to enhance international relationships and learn from their American counterparts. 

During the first week of September, RAF Flight Sergeants Ian Whitehall and Alfie Jones, and Sergeant Spence Rockett attended several briefings at the 820th SFG. They are spending the rest of the month training with members of the 822nd Security Forces Squadron to attain a greater understanding of the squadron's capabilities. 

The briefings helped the RAF members learn how the 820th SFG is structured and organized, which was a major learning point, said RAF Sergeant Rockett. 

"The priority (the 820th SFG) puts on conducting their mission is outstanding," he said. "I believe it also ties into their morale, because we see that is also good." 

Once the RAF members understood the mission, they worked on the main goal of their visit, studying the 820th SFG's tactics, techniques and procedures by training with the 822nd SFS. 

"Visits like this help us learn how to operate together," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Mulder, 820th SFG NCO in charge of operational training. "We work jointly together on many different fronts and working together in this training environment allows us to learn cultures, etiquette, compare tactics and familiarize personnel with the RAF force structure. Our phases of learning will enable our teams to work more efficiently together and help achieve mission accomplishment." 

The tempo of the RAF is much different than that of the 820th SFG said RAF Flight Sergeant Jones. The RAF works with a smaller number of people who tend to take care of things as they happen. 

"When we go back, we'll be doing briefings to provide information on how the 820th (SFG) prepares to deploy and the training they do in preparation," said Flight Sergeant Jones. "We plan to take all the good points from here back to the (United Kingdom) to push out to our hierarchy, so we can try to get the same type of facilities and training." 

Not only are they learning different training techniques to adapt to their tempo, but their input is also highly valued, said Sergeant Mulder. 

"A benefit of the visit is that we are listening to their views with open ears," he said. "We've had honest communication back and forth, and I think one of our missions while they are here is to grow from those experiences." 

Developing a better understanding of how the RAF NCO corps operates and the ways leadership skills are used is very beneficial to the 820th SFG, said Sergeant Mulder. 

"For the most part, we've learned we think on the same level," he said. "Even though we are across the world from each other, we tend to operate and think the same way. The same military foundation actually is making everything very successful." 

Overall, the visit is allowing people who have the same goal in mind - to continue fighting the global war on terrorism - to become better at their missions individually and as a unit. 

"It's a consolidation of ideas," said RAF Flight Sergeant Whitehall. "We look to see if anything is similar to what we do that might be done better, and vice versa. It's a great opportunity to take what we've learned here back to the UK with us."