Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, May 2022
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Vol. 15, No. 5 Serving Southern Arizona’s military community, including Davis-Monthan Air Force Base May 2022 Look for expanded coverage in the digital edition of Desert Lightning News
online at www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb/.
DM’s first Tactical Response Team
INSIDE
StorIES
History Highlight, 2
Warrior of the Month, 3 FGS Activates, 4
Farewell Center, 5
FEAtUrE
Senior Airman Kaitlyn Ergish
Air, eArth, wAter, but especiAlly fire
See Page 6 & 7
By Airman 1st Class VAughN WeBeR
355th Wing Public Affairs
The 355th Security Forces Squadron created their first Tactical Response Team and hosted tryouts at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, April 9, 2022.
This tryout was to fill TRT by testing defenders on how to resolve critical inci- dents involving potential threats to DM, by working closely together and performing different tactics they have practiced during their annual training.
“We do yearly trainings, but it’s not as in-depth and as intense as this is,” said Senior Airman Vanessa Garcia, 355th SFS defender. “This is more of trying to see how we can work as a group and how can we learn from our mistakes.”
The tryouts consisted of a physical fit- ness test, different weapon skills, close- quarters combat tactics, an assessment of full team movements and stress tests.
Nine defenders passed the initial tryouts and joined the TRT. This specialized team is pulled whenever there is a need for close- quarters combat, hostage rescues and ac- tive shooter detainment in order to handle these high risk, high stress situations that are normally outside of the scope of their day-to-day activities.
“This is all brand new, so I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of changes moving forward to make this process as smooth and as posi- tive for everyone who wants to be a part
Photos by Airman 1st Class Vaughn Weber
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrea Anderson (right), 355th Security Forces Squadron defender, scores a participant’s shooting during Davis-Monthan’s first Tactical Re- sponse Team tryouts at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, April 9, 2022. The tryouts consisted of a physical fitness test, different weapon skills, close-quarters combat tactics, an assessment of full team movements and stress tests.
of this unit and this team,” said Staff Sgt. Austin Cherry, 355th SFS base defense op- eration center controller and TRT instruc- tor. “This is the first tryout we’ve done for Davis-Monthan in creating our very own
Tactical Response Team and there will be more tryouts to follow.”
In advancing these capabilities, the TRT is further prepared to defend the base from any emerging threats.
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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Cherry, 355th Security Forces Squadron base defense operation center controller and
TRT instructor, supervises Davis-Monthan’s first Tactical Response Team tryouts at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, April 9, 2022. The tryouts consisted of a physical fit- ness test, different weapon skills, close-quarters combat tac- tics, an assessment of full team movements and stress tests.
Members of the 355th Security Forces Squadron execute close- quarters combat and building clearing procedures during Davis-Monthan’s first Tactical Response Team tryouts at Davis- Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, April 9, 2022. This specialized team is pulled whenever there is a need for close-quarters com- bat, hostage rescues and active shooter detainment in order to handle these high risk, high stress situations that are normally outside of the scope of their day-to-day activities.
