Civilian officers guard Airmen

Published Jan. 28, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Ronald Lafosse
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- New law enforcement officers have come to McConnell, but they're not the normal active-duty Airmen you might be used to, they're civilian officers.

Seven of the recently authorized twenty-four positions have been filled with civilian security forces officers and will be a permanent fixture.

"The purpose and intent of this program is to allow for home-station continuity while our folks go down range and transition back," said Ken Chrapkowski, 22nd Security Forces Squadron assistant operations officer.

"We were able to design a four on and three off, 10-hour work schedule that was approved by our civilian personnel folks and the local union," said Mr. Chrapkowski. "This matches up with our active-duty schedules."

"It gives us a little more free time since we have been so undermanned," commented Senior Airman Brad Enochs, 931st Military Support Flight, currently assigned to 22nd Security Forces Squadron, when asked about the benefits of the civilian officers.

The civilian officers can be identified by the patches worn on the upper-arm sleeves of their battle dress uniforms. These officers have the same authority as any security forces squadron member.

Currently, McConnell is waiting for a candidate listing from Air Force Personnel Center to use in filling the remaining positions.

Many of the civilian officers participated in a five-week course at the Veteran's Affairs Law Enforcement training center at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. This program was designed specifically for civilian security forces officers.