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U.S. Air Force

Security Forces

The Air Force's ground combat and law enforcement specialists. From base defense and entry control to ICBM security and deployed convoy ops, Security Forces defends what the Air Force needs to fly and fight.

Security Forces
Explore SF Squadrons
SFS / ICBM Security / K-9 / CATM
Defensor Fortis - Defenders of the Force Est. 1947
SEC FORCES
DEFENSOR FORTIS
Security Forces Squadrons
Base Defense / LE / ICBM Security
3P
Security Forces AFSC
S5
SF Officer AOC
CATM
Combat Arms Trng
K-9
MIL WORKING DOGS
Security Forces is the Air Force's largest career field. SF defenders provide base defense, law enforcement, entry control, ICBM security, air base ground defense, and combat arms training. They are the airmen at the gate, the patrols securing the perimeter, the tactical response teams for active threats, and the military working dog handlers tracking intruders. During deployments, SF teams provide convoy security, detainee operations, and fly-away security for aircraft at austere locations. Read more
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Air Police to Defenders 1947 - Present
VIETNAM
TET OFFENSIVE 1968
Vietnam and Tan Son Nhut
Air Base Ground Defense
Tet
Offensive 1968
Tan Son Nhut
AB Attacked
Perimeter
Defense
ABGD
AIR BASE GROUND DEF
Air Police and Security Police defended air bases across Vietnam from ground attack, sapper infiltration, and mortar fire. During the Tet Offensive in January 1968, Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon came under massive ground assault. Security Police fought hand-to-hand to defend the flight line. The battle earned the 377th Security Police Squadron a Valorous Unit Award. Air base ground defense became a core SF mission that remains central to the career field today. Read more
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GWOT
OIF / OEF
GWOT Security Forces
Outside the Wire Every Day
Convoy
Security Ops
ECP
Entry Control Points
IED
Route Clearance Spt
Deployed
GROUND COMBAT
During OIF and OEF, Security Forces deployed in ground combat roles unprecedented for the Air Force. SF teams ran entry control points, conducted convoy security through IED-laden routes, provided detainee operations, and trained Iraqi and Afghan security forces. SF airmen earned Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars with Valor, and Combat Action Medals. They fought as ground combatants in a service historically defined by airpower. The Defenders proved they could fight on the ground when the mission required it. Read more
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3P
Security Forces AFSC
Defensor
Fortis
K-9
Military Working Dogs
Largest
AF Career Field