9th SFS Defenders return home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chuck Broadway
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Family, friends and fellow squadron members greeted 26 members of the 9th Security Forces Squadron July 26 as they returned home following a six-month deployment to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, where they encountered numerous attacks from enemy forces and successfully protected the assets inside the perimeter.

The attacks on Bagram included suicide bombers, attempts to penetrate the perimeter of the base and small arms fire. More than 20 insurgents were killed in the various attacks while the 9th SFS Airmen, deployed as part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, only suffered minor injuries.

"I'm incredibly proud of what these Airmen did," said Maj. Edward Simpson, 9th SFS commander. "It epitomizes what our career field stands for: 'Defenders of the Force.' These Airmen are the poster children of what we represent in security forces, and I'm in awe of what they did for the men and women at Bagram."

Major Simpson said the performance of the 9th SFS Airmen is a testament to the training and skills learned while at their home station. He quoted an old saying, "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war," stating it proves that Airmen have to be ready anytime, anywhere.

"It reinforces everything we do in our training program to prepare our Defenders for what they may face downrange," Major Simpson said. "It should stand as an example for not only our Defenders, but everyone in the Air Force that you never know when or where you will face danger and that good, solid training will afford you the best opportunity to survive."

The work of the 9th SFS Airmen has been called noble, valiant and heroic by Lt. Col. James Lowe, commander of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, the unit the Airmen served under. He stated they were not deterred and didn't even flinch when confronted by adversaries attempting to attack Bagram.

"It is staggering to consider the number of lives they preserved," the Colonel said in an email to SFS commanders who had Airmen involved in a recent attack. "They respond quickly, precisely stepping right into the fray killing or driving off each hostile attack."

Major Simpson addressed the Airmen and stated he was proud to command a squadron which includes the returning Airmen.

"I'm humbled by what they did and even more so to be in command of such a group of heroes," the major said. "As a leader you hope to be able to lead a few men and women like this in your career. To have so many is an honor, and I just hope I can do justice to them as their commander."