McChord security forces, protecting the flightline around the clock

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Divine Cox
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Here at McChord Field, the men and women of the 627th Security Forces Squadron have a very important job, which is to ensure the safety and well-being of all personnel, their families and base assets 24/7.

Armed and trained Airmen from the 627th SFS answer the call of duty every day to ensure the McChord Field flightline is secure at all times by patrolling it with vigilance.

“Our primary role here is protection of personnel and assets on the airfield,” said Airman 1st Class Jonathan Hailey, 627th SFS patrolman. “If we were not here, then all our personnel and assets would be at risk.”

Hailey said there are always multiple patrols in motion on the flightline.

“We usually set up in different spots as a deterrent and to maintain visibility near the fence line,” said Hailey. “That way the off base population can see there is a police presence here and we are able to be in contact with people on the flightline and respond to anything that happens.”

Staff Sgt Lucas Pellett, 627th SFS Bravo Flight flight sergeant, said the flightline is always patrolled by their security ration team.

“We have an SRT that is always mobile within the flightline,” said Pellett. “We are always doing restricted area badge checks, random anti-terrorism measures, ramp plots and a lot of other things to make sure our aircraft and personnel are always secure.”

“Everyone is required to wear a restricted area badge when on the flightline, unless they are working in an area where they don't have to,” Pellett said. “Some areas are designated as free zones, which usually have contractors doing construction, and allow non-base personnel to work.”

When patrolling the flightline, the patrols are looking for any and everything that looks suspicious or out of the ordinary.

“We are looking for everything when we are out there,” said Hailey. “From vehicles that shouldn’t be on the flightline, to people jumping the fence or acting suspiciously around the fence line. We look for any kind of problems that could affect the safety of our maintenance personnel.”

Based on the violation that occurs when stopped by a patrol, determines the type of administrative action the violator will receive, said Pellett.

“If it’s something minor, we would just contact our McChord Law Enforcement desk, and we would go and sort it out,” said Pellett. “For something bigger, like breaking red, we would detain them, remove them from the area, have them searched and make sure they have the proper credentials to be in that area. If not they would be transported to Joint Base Emergency Center.”

'Breaking red' refers to an incident where an individual crosses a red line, which is placed on the flightline to show base personnel and contractors where not to cross.

Pellett added that the 627th SFS take their job here extremely serious.

“Our mission is to provide installation security,” said Pellett. “Without us out here, there would be a lack of security and anybody could just walk onto the plane.

I’ve had maintenance Airmen come up to me and tell me that they feel a lot safer knowing we are out patrolling and keeping the flightline safe so they can do their jobs.”