TOP STORY > >Keeping eyes and ears open

Story and photos by Senior Airman Steele Britton
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan – A professional attitude and clear mindset are essential traits of any security forces personnel stationed here at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

Members of the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron ensure all Airmen at Manas are in safe hands while stationed here.

The mission of the squadron is to secure, protect, and defend coalition weapons systems, air base assets, personnel, and resources assigned to the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The men and women of the 376th ESFS know when an individual enters the base until they exit; whether a few hours or several months have passed.

“We process over 700 people a day to include more than 75 vehicles. We have a lot of Kyrgyz employees who come to prepare meals, help clean the base, and that work closely with military members. We must ensure all are properly identified,” says Staff Sgt. Christopher McCauley, 376th ESFS visitor control center journeyman deployed from the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing SFS at Little Rock Air Force Base.

The defenders at the visitor control center, here, are charged with searching vehicles, persons, and all belongings before being cleared to enter. They use a unique biometric identification technology that is used at Manas to account for any person entering and exiting the base. The system helps ensure 100 percent accountability at all times.

Other members of the team who play a vital role in the mission are the military working dogs. Military Working Dog Handler Staff Sgt. Teri Messina, deployed from the 30th SFS at Vandenberg, Calif., patrols the base with her dog, Rico, “we are in charge of conducting vehicle, aircraft, and border sweeps here at Manas. We also train the local Kyrgyz State Security Service K-9 team which entails standard training as well as explosive searches.”

Another aspect of security forces is flightline and entry control point security operations.

“When you’re working control points and flightline patrol, you’re constantly in the mindset of waiting for anything to happen,” says Airman 1st Class William Gault, also deployed from the 189th. “Staying vigilant is key,” he added.

The recent change of Manas to a Transit Center has had a positive effect to security operations.

Maj. Todd Stuff, 376th ESFS commander, who commands the personnel representing the Air National Guard, active duty, and Northrop Grumman contractors here explains, “Although changes are in the planning stages, the opportunity to work with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense is a positive step in strengthening military interactions with our host country.”

Major Stuff has been deployed to the Transit Center at Manas for five months and plans to return home soon, “Deploying with units from six different states and territories provides an added benefit by forming lasting relationships and networks. My fond memories of working in the Kyrgyz Republic will always be with me throughout my career.”