Career Field History

Question 1

Who is largely considered the father of the Air Force?

Answer 1

General Henry H. Hap Arnold, Commander of the Army Air Force, and only 5 star General.

Question 2

As WWII progressed AAF MP and base security responsibilities expanded, what occurred?

Answer 2

Expansion led the Army to create a separate provost marshall’s office. And on March 29, 1943 Hap Arnold named Colonel H.G Reynolds as the first APM, marking the birthday of the AF SF.

Question 3

What happened post cold war era on January 2nd 1948?

Answer 3

General Order 1. Headquarters (HQ) Air Force designated all other units as Air Police and established APM.

Question 4

Who became the first APM (Air Provost Marshall) of the Air Force? (Post Army Transfer).

Answer 4

Colonel Joseph V. Dillon

Question 5

The Korean war cased what kind of shift in base defense and why?

Answer 5

In the initial stages of the Korean war, South Korean and US forces found themselves ill prepared. This caused development of BD capabilities and a “Soldier First” mentality. Every AFSC trained in armed combat.

Question 6

List the general timeline of Police Force School development as the Korean War continued.

Answer 6

1950 (Sep 1)- First Air Police School at Tyndall AFB

1952- ABD took priority, replaced Police school, shifting to Parks AFB, CA

1956 (Oct)- Back to Air Police training and transferred to Lackland, where it remains the SF Academy.

Question 7

In the 1960’s in Vietnam, what kind of shift did the career field take?

Answer 7

Three consecutive successful attacks on U.S Airbases, identified a critical need for better Air Base Ground Defense capabilities. U.S. airbases identified a critical need for better Air Base Ground Defense capabilities.

Question 8

Who was the first Air Policeman to be killed in action during the Vietnam conflict on July 1st, 1965?

Answer 8

SSgt Terrance Jensen, while supervising flightline security at Da Nang Air Base.

Question 9

In 1966 the Air Police was renamed as ______.

Answer 9

Security Police

Question 10

What was Operation SAFE SIDE? (1967)

Answer 10

An effort to bolster protection of air bases by training Security Police in light infantry tactics and special weapons.

Question 11

What unit was formed through operation SAFE SIDE?

Answer 11

The 1041st Security Police Squadron (TEST) was formed to train for ops in Southeast Asia.

Question 12

What was the biggest test in effectiveness of the Security Police in 1968? (Vietnam)

Answer 12

The battle of Tan Sun Nhut. The Tet Offensive. Jan 31st, 1968.

-Coordinated attacks
-Biggest test in Combat effectiveness
-Bunker 051

Question 13

Who were the 5 men at bunker 051?

Answer 13

Sgt Louis Fisher, William Cyr, Charles Hebron, Roger Mills, and Alonzo Coggins (the only survivor).

Question 14

In the 1960’s the name APM was dropped in favor of ______.

Answer 14

Director of Security and Law Enforcement (now top cop).

Question 15

What happened to the career field in March 1971?

Answer 15

The career field split into two separate specialties, Security and Law Enforcement.

Question 16

What was a milestone that happened in the career field in November 1971?

Answer 16

12 Female Airmen entered Law Enforcement specialist training.

Question 17

What was a milestone that happened in the career field in November 1976?

Answer 17

100 Female volunteers were selected to attend security specialist training to test suitability of women in combat related jobs.

Question 18

In 1975 what was the first time Security Police were tasked with a high priority rescue mission?

Answer 18

Recovery of the S.S Mayaguez, that was seized by Khmer Rouge communist forces. 18 Security Policeman perished in a helicopter crash and a USMC assault team was sent in.

Question 19

Describe GLCM use in 1981-1989.

Answer 19

Ground Launched Cruise Missiles were developed, staged and deployed throughout Europe. Influenced Eastern Bloc countries to withdraw their nuclear missiles from neighboring countries.

Question 20

What Operation occurred in Grenada in 1983?

Answer 20

URGENT FURY, a multinational, multi-service effort. The task was to secure air landing strips and control of Enemy Prisoners of War.

Question 21

What was Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama 1989.

Answer 21

First experience in urban operations since Vietnam, the U.S invasion of Panama to end the dictatorial regime of General Manuel Antonio Noriega (commander of Panama Defense Forces).

Question 22

What ban was lifted in 1985?

Answer 22

Ban on women in the Security career field was lifted.

Question 23

What was Operation DESERT STORM?

Answer 23

in the 1990’s need for highly trained and mobile expeditionary force capable of deploying anytime, anywhere. Desert storm found Security Police involved in a war on large scale foreign soil for the first time since Vietnam.
*FIRST Lg Scale war on foreign soil since Vietnam.

Question 24

What operation occurred in August of 1990?

Answer 24

Operation DESERT SHIELD began, defense of Saudi Arabia in the wake of the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.

Question 25

What happened to Operation DESERT SHIELD in 1991?

Answer 25

DESERT SHIELD became DESERT STORM with the objective of liberating Kuwait from Iraq. SP were tasked with securing air bases, providing dignitary support, securing classified info and resources, and counterterrorism.

Question 26

Explain how Kobar Towers affected the career.

Answer 26

On June 25, 1996, Security Police members noticed a suspicious vehicle in Saudi Arabia. Sergeant Gurrero directed evac of towers, blast left 19 dead and more than 260 injured. led to major FP changes.

Question 27

What happened to the career field in 1997?

Answer 27

Career field (LE, Combat arms, etc.) merged into Security Forces.

*1971-Split
* 1997- Merged

New SF mission was Force Protection.

Question 28

2000’s - 9/11

Answer 28

Global War on Terror, brought changes to how SF conducted its home and deployed mission.
-Operation NOBLE EAGLE
-FPCON B,D
-Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
Hearts and minds

Question 29

What operation occurred in 2003?

Answer 29

IRAQI FREEDOM SF supported, SSgt Dena Brakin first female SF member to in a war zone.

Question 30

What operation occurred in 2005?

Answer 30

Operation DESERT SAFESIDE- Balad Air base was the largest logistical hub for military ops in Iraq.

-Task force 1041 was formed, composed of mainly the 820th BDG. Tasked with kill or capture ops.