HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- When the 66th Security Forces Squadron requires additional personnel to fulfill the installation defense mission, officials here tap into a well-trained cadre of augmentees.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Pick, the tactical-level coordinator who trains, organizes, equips and prepares augmentees, spoke about the program’s importance to SFS.
“The augmentee program is a force multiplier for our squadron,” said Pick. “Personnel from other units across the installation step-in when needed and do so professionally and extremely well.”
While activations have been rare, according to SFS officials, the squadron recently tapped into this resource for the first time following the events after 9/11.
“The program provides us a pool of qualified candidates,” he said. “Augmentees receive all the equipment and training and work alongside our security forces entry controllers at the installation’s gates.”
Senior Airman Marcell Parker, a customer service technician with the 66th Comptroller Squadron, discussed his experience as an augmentee.
“I wanted to get involved in the augmentee program because I wanted to give back to the 66th Security Forces Squadron,” said Parker, who activated for nearly a month earlier this year. “They do so much for the safety and security of this installation, and I wanted to learn more about the security mission.”
The opportunity offered Parker, who has been in the Air Force for less than three years, experience in another career field.
Another augmentee, 1st Lt. Jason Kays, a program manager for Enterprise Acquisition Services, spoke about how it provided him an opportunity to broaden his experience in the Air Force.
“I am involved in the Patriot Honor Guard and several of the enlisted members said it was a good program,” said Kays, who activated for nearly three months this past summer. “While I did not expect to get activated, I’m glad I did, as I have a better appreciation for the difficult mission they [SFS] perform on a daily basis.”
While augmentees may not activate often, training occurs throughout the year.
“Each augmentee receives training in basic security forces’ duties to include communications, guard mount procedures, security reporting and alerting, individual challenge techniques, use of non-lethal force and more,” said Pick. “The program allows Hanscom to bolster its force protection posture to counter increased threats or mitigate the manpower impacts of operational taskings.”
Kays, who commissioned in 2014, enjoyed the opportunity to broaden his experience.
“I really liked being moved around,” he said. “Even though some posts were better than others, it kept things fresh. I really like being in close proximity to the mission I am doing. I am a very hands-on and visual individual.”
Steve Tupeck, 66th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Flight chief, oversees the augmentee program at Hanscom for SFS and other units.
“The Hanscom Augmentation Duty Program is vital to the success of the installation’s mission, especially the security forces augmentees,” said Tupeck.
Tupeck said that, in addition to SFS, other organizations have augmentee programs including the 66th Civil Engineering Division for emergency management, 66th Logistics Readiness Squadron for deployment processing, and 66th Force Support Squadron for search and recovery efforts.
For further information about the augmentee program, contact Tupeck at 781-225-1366.