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Grissom security forces named best in Air Force Reserve

  • Published
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 434th Security Forces Squadron at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., is the Air Force's pick as the best security forces squadron in Air Force Reserve Command for 2006.

Each year AFRC nominates two units for the award, and teams evaluate them to determine the best unit. Command officials announced the winner in an e-mail to unit commanders Feb. 23.

Reservists in the Grissom unit believe they got the award for the work they've done at home and aboard.

"We're ahead of the curve in things that need to get done," said Senior Master Sgt. Lewis Raye, 434th SFS assistant operations superintendent. "We've got 90 to 95 percent of our unit members trained in combat skills training and maintain high levels of ancillary training completion."

Reservists in the unit deployed more than 2,900 days during the year in support of Air Expeditionary Force taskings and contingency operations, including high-profile assignments such as working security screening at the war crimes trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"Our total involvement really sets us apart," said Maj. Randall Stivers, 434th SFS commander. "In addition to supporting the AEFs, we have an outstanding working relationship with the local law enforcement agencies at levels most other units don't have.

"We work very closely with the county, state and city police departments," he said. "We augment their training by allowing their trainers to use some of our computer-based equipment to expand their capabilities." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service from a 434th Air Refueling Wing news release)