TSA assessors train McConnell’s Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The Transportation Security Administration visited its first Air Force base to train McConnell Air Force Base's Airmen on how to mitigate Man Portable Defense Systems May 3 through May 7.

MANPADS, shoulder fired weapons capable of shooting down military and civilian aircraft from isolated locations around an airport, have struck approximately 40 civilian aircraft since the 1970s and approximately 125 MANPADS have been recovered in Iraq since 2006.

MANPADS are also very accessible on the black market costing as little as $2,000. In light of the threat, assessors and training officials came to McConnell in order to develop a plan to protect the world's largest KC-135 Stratotankers fleet and assess the ability to find possible launch sites around the McConnell area.

"McConnell offered the air marshals a unique opportunity in that we were the first stand-alone AF base to receive a TSA conducted MANPAD assessment," said Ken Knowles, 22nd Air Refueling Wing installation antiterrorism officer.

The TSA has conducted annual vulnerability assessments on civilian air ports since 2002.

"The air Marshalls used the same methodology they would apply at any civilian airport and conducted hands-on training for several members of Team McConnell and simply put, they left us with the skill set and knowledge to conduct our own assessments in the future," said Mr. Knowles.

The opportunity for the federal marshals to teach McConnell Airmen about how to make a vulnerability assessment was part of a larger plan for the local community.

"The ultimate goal of this assessment is a comprehensive MANPADS mitigation plan for the entire Wichita Metropolitan area," said Mr. Knowles. "A MANPADS threat to McConnell is a threat to Wichita Mid-Continent Airport and vice versa so by us completing this assessment we are able to build a mitigation plan that can coincide with Mid-Continent's mitigation plan."

Because of this, McConnell hosted a variety of aviation representatives from around the community to work alongside McConnell Airmen in identifying vulnerabilities, or possible launch sites.

In attendance at the weeklong assessment were Airmen from the 22nd Security Forces Squadron, the 22nd Operations Group, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, representatives from Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita Police Department air section, Department of Defense Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Missouri Air National Guard.

"It was a good turn out from local authorities, other agencies and wing personnel," said Maj. Pat Miller, 22nd OG senior intelligence officer. "This MANPADS Vulnerability Assessment training was not focused on McConnell. To mitigate a threat such as this, a stand-off threat with a maximum effective range of several miles, we also need to incorporate the local community."

Representatives from around the community and McConnell were able to learn the importance of the MANPADS vulnerabilities assessments.

"This assessment enabled and required the 22nd ARW to partner with local law enforcement agencies to enhance our force protection stance outside our boundaries," said Major Miller. "It also allows us to be aware of potential vulnerabilities and be better prepared for the MANPADS threats."

With the help of the Wichita Police department helicopter pilots McConnell was the first Air Force base to be trained by TSA in finding vulnerabilities around the base. McConnell now has information needed to develop a mitigation plan and in 2011, McConnell will conduct another assessment without the TSA to see the effects of the 2010 MANPADS assessment.