Phoenix Raven protects AMC birds

  • Published
  • By Tyler Grimes
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE, Calif. --  Protecting the Airmen, the base and aircraft from enemies both foreign and domestic takes intense dedication and self-sacrifice from the service members in the Security Forces Squadrons throughout the Air Force. At Travis, there is an elite team of Airmen within the 60th SFS who protect the Airmen, aircraft and mission of the Air Mobility Command against foes in some of the most hostile places in the world.

The Phoenix Raven program was established in 1977 by AMC to develop Airmen to guard aircraft and secure airfields during missions in which increased security measures were deemed necessary, according to the Phoenix Raven factsheet on the AMC website.

"Our job is to keep any threats from harming the aircraft or aircrew," said Tech. Sgt. Steven Rose, 60th SFS Phoenix Raven program deputy manager. "We do this by ascertaining the situation and then apply our training to neutralize any threats."

The Phoenix Raven Airmen learn a variety of techniques and skills including antiterrorism training, advanced firearms training, tactical surveillance, unarmed combat and self-defense methods. One technique the Airmen are taught is called verbal judo, which is a tactic they use to engage possible hostiles through communication, Rose said.

When an unauthorized person approaches the area the Airmen are protecting, the team begins an assessment of the situation by observation. The Airmen will use verbal judo to communicate with the person and neutralize any threats with the least amount of force possible, he said.

"If you approach me and you're angry, I want to put you at ease by speaking to you calmly and quell the problem," he said. "We are not trying to fuel the fire, we are trying to put the fire out."

According to Rose, completing the Phoenix Raven training course and becoming a member of their unit was a great experience in his career.

"Going through school and being one of the few to receive a Raven number gives you a real sense of pride," he said.

With his pride comes the understanding of the significant responsibility these Airmen have and the knowledge that sometimes they are the only ones keeping the operation out of harms way.

"We have multi-million dollar aircraft going to airfields where there is no security and at times the Raven teams are the only ones on the ground to protect it," he said. "When there is local security, it's still up to us because no one will look out for our assets like we will."