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Blue Berets, Defenders of the Force

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zach Anderson
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  "Defensor Fortis" is the motto for all members of the Air Force Security Forces. It means "Defenders of the Force" and is a fitting description for those who wear the distinctive blue beret of a Security Forces Airman. For the 507th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron, the motto has taken on a very literal meaning as they will soon be serving as the defenders in a real-world deployed environment. 
   Members of the 507th SFS have been mobilized as part of the ongoing war on terror. Over the last two years, the SFS has been undergoing extensive training in preparation for this mission. The squadron members recently returned from 16 days of intense training at Camp Swift near Bastrop, Texas where they received training designed to prepare them for the specific challenges that will meet them as they provide security to U.S. forces in the Middle East.
   "We are ready, we are trained and motivation is high," 507th SFS Senior Master Sgt. Daryl Flanders said. "The feelings of patriotism are high. Seventy-five percent of our unit joined the military because of the events of Sept. 11. Now they are finally getting to fulfill the duty they signed up for."
   While a few members of the 507th SFS have been through prior mobilizations, this will be the first real-world deployment for the majority of the squadron. It's an opportunity to put training to use and Flanders said he considers the first-time members to be a blessing.
   "New people have youth and enthusiasm. They help motivate me to try new strategies to keep up with them and keep people motivated. You can't motivate someone the same way in 2008 as you could in 1988. The new people help out with that," he said.
   Veterans of prior mobilizations will be doing their part to care of the new members as well.
   "The Security Forces Squadron is a family and we take care of each other," Tech. Sgt. James Stanton said.
   "That's for real, that's no joke," Tech. Sgt. Terry Pate added. "It's serious business. We watch out for each other's backs and we take care of each other. I'm proud to be with these guys because of our cohesiveness."
   For new members of the unit, the sense of family provides a source of confidence.
   "Being with these guys, if there was something I wasn't confident in, I know I can rely on them," Airman Jason Overstreet said.
   "I'll be depending on them a lot. Definitely," Airman Basic David Smith said.
   The job won't be easy. Members of the 507 SFS will be serving as the front line of defense, working 14 to 18 hour days in hostile conditions. The demands of the 180-day deployment will be high, but the squadron is ready for the task at hand.
   "We've all taken the oath. We know what to expect while we are there. A lot of our freedoms will be taken away, but we do it to protect freedom," Flanders said.
   "This is the greatest opportunity of all of our lives to serve our country and protect freedom," Staff Sgt. Christopher Scott said. 
   And protecting freedom is what being a "defender of the force" is really all about.