- 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron
-
Capt. Robert Schrope at the Hayy Al-A'amel Police Station 2006 with a covered body next to him
732 ESFS/Detachment 3 and 732 ESFS/Detachment 2 were United States Air Force Security Forces units sent to support Police Transition Teams in Baghdad, Iraq from 2005 until July 31, 2010. [1] It was a "Request for Forces" (RFF) #619 or "In Lieu Of" agreement between the United States Air Force and United States Army. [2] Rff 619 earned multiple unit awards and its members receiving individual awards as the Army Combat Action Badge, Air Force Combat Action Medal, Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star. The 732 ESFS is one of the most highly decorated and regarded Air Force units that participated in OIF.
Contents
Organization
RFF 619 is the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces. The 732nd ESFS was part of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, headquartered at Balad Air Base, Iraq. Det-3 was a subordinate unit of the 1-1 Cavalry and the 336 MP Battalion. In January 2009, Detachment 2 was formed and deployed to join the PTT efforts in Iraq. They were based initially at FOB Mahmudiyah in the middle of the "Triangle of Death." Det 1, 4, and 5 were tasked with Law & Order missions on their respective FOBs at Speicher, the IZ, and Adder/Tallil. Det 6 was used both as a Police Transition Team in Tikrit based at Speicher and as a Law Enforcement Detachment on the FOB in Taji. 732nd ESFS MWD Handlers were assigned to Army units at FOBs throughout the AOR. [1]
Mission
Performs combat patrols to Iraqi Police stations. Trains, mentors and coaches the Iraqi Police in arguably Baghdad's worst districts to include Al Rashid, Karadah, Kadhimiya, Mansour and Abu Ghraib. Its main objective is to restore faith and legitimacy to the Iraqi Police. Det-3 has also performed Protective Services Detail for high ranking Army, Air Force, and civilian officials into such cities as Ramadi and Fallujah.[3]
History
When deployed in June 2006, RFF 619 was renamed 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's Detachment 7. A majority of the members and the core leadership originated from the 824th Security Forces Squadron, Moody AFB, Georgia. Other airmen from 204th Security Forces Squadron El Paso, Texas and the 23rd Security Forces Squadron, Moody AFB augmented the 824th SFS.[4] In Nov 2006, Security Forces volunteers from over 65 different bases relieved the 824th Security Forces Squadron. Shortly thereafter, the Air Force re designated Det-7 as Det-3. This unit (call sign: Wildcards) would become the very first year long PTT tour conducted by Security Forces.[5] Det-3 would be assigned to the 92nd MP Battalion deployed to Camp Liberty in Baghdad. In September of 2007, a multi-million dollar compound was constructed on Sather Air Base. It would be named "Camp Defender" in honor of fallen members A1C Lee Bernard Chavis and SSgt John T. Self. The area contains living quarters, a Base defense operations center, Armory, and a motor pool.[6] In early 2008 Det-3 Shadow Company was relocated to Forward Operating Base Falcon, Baghdad Iraq
Det 3 runs missions from several camps, forward operating bases, and joint security stations around Iraq. Det-3 includes several Army medics, communications techs, mechanics, administration personnel, and an intelligence team. [7]
7]
Det 3 was inactivated on July 3, 2010 at Camp Taji, Iraq. [7] 732 ESFS, Det 2 was officially "Off Mission" and relieved of duty on 26 July 2010 by the Army's 94th MP Company at Camp Stryker, Iraq. [8]
SSgt John Self was killed May 14, 2007W.I.A and K.I.A
On September 22, 2006 Airman 1st Class Jeremy Birchfield an 824th Security Forces Squadron turret gunner was hit by a sniper during patrol operations. He was presented with the Purple Heart at Camp Victory, Iraq Sept. 24, 2006.[9]
On October 14th, 2006, A1C Lee Bernard Chavis was killed by small arms fire in the Karadah District of Baghdad. A1C Chavis was mortally wounded while securing the site of a suspected improvised explosive device. A1C Chavis was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.[10][11][12]
On April 15, 2007, SSgt Scott Lilley was injured when the team he was with was attacked by insurgents and his vehicle hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).[13]
On April 25 2007, Wildcard 2-1, Charlie vehicle, was stuck by an IED while traveling down route Ash where local national interpreter Ahmed was critically wounded and A1C Jonathan Higgins sustained minor burn injuries, and was later diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury. A1C Higgins received the Purple Heart medal and Air Force Combat Action Medal in February 2008.
On May 14th, 2007, SSgt John T. Self was killed and three airman were wounded. SrA Joshua Brooks and SrA Melanie Manley sustained critical injuries, and SSgt Brian Breen sustained minor injuries when an IED hit the Humvee they were traveling in the Al Rashid district of Baghdad. The Squad was traveling down route Vernon and had just passed route Steelers en route back to the VBC complex when there Humvee was struck by an IED. [14][15]
On July 3, 2007, Wildcard 1-3; SSgt Daniel Peña, SrA Lawrence Taylor and SrA Mark Brown, were injured when their vehicle was hit by an IED. The squad was traveling on Route Vernon and was en-route to Al Bayaa, Baghdad Police Station in the Al Rashid district.[16]
On April 3, 2008, SSgt Travis Griffin was killed by an IED that detonated near his vehicle while on patrol. SrA Tony Maffei, SrA Joseph Ronchetto, and Spc. Curtis Worthy were also injured in the blast.[17][17]
On September 8, 2009, 1st Lt Joseph D. Helton was killed when an IED hit the Humvee he was traveling in the Al Rashid district of Baghdad. He was the first KIA for Det 2 after previously serving 9 months as a Flight Commander for Det 3. Also WIA were SrA Victor Wise and SrA Jon Galley. [18]
On September 15, 2009, SrA Philip Newlyn and A1C Eddy Kelley were injured after an IED hit their Humvee while traveling in the Al Rashid district of Baghdad.[citation needed]
1st Lt Joseph HeltonUnit Names
- 2006 "Ghostwalkers", Det 3
- 2006-2007 "Wildcards", Det 3
- 2007-2008 "Shadows", Det 3
- 2008-2009 "Renegades" Det 3
- 2009-2010 "Roughriders", Det 2
- 2009-2010 "Praetorians" Det 3
- 2009-2010 "Reapers", Det 2
In Media
In August 2006, a Det-3 M1114 turret shield was found utilizing what now has become the infamous slogan "Iraqi Photo's". The picture has made its way through email and various humor sites.[19]
The Valdosta, Georgia based band "Killed by the Clue Knife" wrote the song entitled "Doc Schrope and His Long Hair" about an Air Force medic from Det-7.[citation needed]
In Sept 2006 several music videos were released depicting Det-7 in Baghdad. The videos were posted on Myspace and YouTube [20] and are also shown at the 343rd Training Squadron.[21]
In honor of SSgt. Travis Griffin, a workout was established on the popular exercise site Crossfit.[22]
A roadside bomb strikes Wildcard 3-1 in the Al Rashid district January 2007
___________________________________________________________________________________________Wildcards - 1-3 - Air Force Security Forces
In his last months alive, Senior Airman Anthony Mena rarely left home without a backpack filled with medications. He returned from his second deployment to Iraq complaining of back pain, insomnia, anxiety and nightmares. Doctors diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder and prescribed powerful cocktails of psychiatric drugs and narcotics. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/us/13drugs.html?_r=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKmaFSjoPHo
Anthony MenaSee also
References
- ^ a b 732nd ESFS inactivated during Balad ceremony
- ^ Airmen train to prepare for 'in-lieu-of' taskings
- ^ Feature - Dangerous road to progress
- ^ YouTube - Det-7/RFF 619 Baghdad Running up that Hill
- ^ Army trains Airmen for 'outside the wire' mission
- ^ Sather makes room for, welcomes 732nd SFS Det 3
- ^ Airmen shut down 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Det. 3
- ^ Last Air Force police transition team completes mission
- ^ Moody Airman receives Purple Heart
- ^ Fallen Moody AFB Airman Honored
- ^ YouTube - Remember A1C Chavis
- ^ Fallen Moody AFB Airman honored at memorial service
- ^ Wounded Airman Returns Home | KXNet.com North Dakota News
- ^ Balad Airmen say goodbye to fallen warrior
- ^ YouTube - SSgt John Self Rememberence
- ^ http://hinojosa.house.gov/list/press/tx15_hinojosa/pr102907pena.shtml[dead link]
- ^ a b Vietnam Security Police Association, Inc. (USAF): RIP Travis L. Griffin, 377th SFS, April 3, 2008
- ^ 1st security forces officer killed in Iraq - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times
- ^ Iraqi photo booth
- ^ YouTube - Det 3 732 ESFS Wildcard 3-1, PART 5
- ^ YouTube - Baghdad RFF 619/Det-7 Wish You Were Here
- ^ CrossFit: Forging Elite Fitness: Monday 080609
External links
- Security Forces - PTSD PTSD Treatment
- Security Force member - Dedication Security Force member
- Security Force Veteran Security Force Veteran
- Security forces Airmen help shape Iraq's future Air Force News (Jan 4, 2007)
- New combat turret design named for fallen Airman Air Force News (Dec 9, 2007)
- Farewell on a Dark Tarmac Washington Post (Oct 18, 2007)
- Faces of Fallen Washington Post
- RFF 619 Videos on YouTube
Categories:- 2006 in Iraq
- Security squadrons of the United States Air Force
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