Mission accomplished: 90th SFS receive relief from 18-month assignment

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Dale Yates
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Sept. 25 is now a moment in history for the 90th Security Forces Squadron here. At 4 p.m., Col. Greg Tims, 90th Missile Wing commander, received an e-mail from Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Air Force Space Command commander, and in an hour, Colonel Tims stood in front of 90th SFS' Charlie Flight. 

The room of heavily armed warriors waited patiently for what the wing commander had to say, but apprehension had seized some of the Airmen's faces.

Colonel Tims then notified the Airmen, who were moments away from another 12-hour shift, that he received word from AFSPC stating the additional posting for the weapons storage area's sensor system upgrade was no longer required.

He asked Airmen who were destined to man those posts that night to raise their hands. 

He then proceeded to inform them, "You can have the night off." 

Disbelief stunned the Airmen, so the colonel repeated himself and ensured them he was not joking. 

After 18 months of non-stop shifts, relief had arrived. A newly automated sensor system had been installed, and with the system's certification, General Kehler gave the word to pull off of duty the extra Airman it took to keep physical watch over the entire fence line. 

"Today has been a very long awaited day for the men and women of the 90th Security Forces Squadron," Maj. Beverly Baker, 90th SFS commander, said. "For 18 months, they have been posted as human sensors while our sensor system was being upgraded." 

"Through penetrating heat, torrential downpours, blizzards and negative-degree temperatures they stood the watch to ensure the security of our nation's most critical resources," she said. "I'm humbled by their perseverance and positive attitude through it all -- I couldn't be prouder of them," she added. 

Major Baker asked one Airman what she planned to do with the unexpected free time; Airman 1st Class Shaquan Williams replied with a smile, "I don't know." 

Col. Steven Miller, 90th Security Force Group commander, emphasized to the Airmen that this wouldn't be the last happy day for the 90th SFS. Without the need to post the sentries, the extra manning will allow the Airmen, among other things, to start taking more flexible leave and have time to conduct more training throughout the unit. 

Complimenting them for mission success, Colonel Miller thanked the Airmen for "standing out there as the last line of defense and the first line of deterrence." 

The 90th SFS was not the only base unit heavily tasked to support installation of the new sensor system. The 90th Maintenance Group also had a lot of mission impact by supplying sentries during much of the installation and also developing new training and maintenance procedures to support keeping the senor fully operational. 

Col. Eric Batway, 90th MXG commander added, "this is a huge milestone for both the SFG and MXG as we transition to successful operation of an entirely new WSA sensor system here at F.E. Warren. This was a Team Warren accomplishment from start to finish and our recent initial nuclear surety inspection validated that to Air Force Space Command."