Moody Airmen host riot training for local state troopers

Members of Georgia State Patrol’s Mobile Field Force march toward a group of simulated rioters while a smoke grenade burns, Nov. 16, 2016, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., during riot training. Between the two days of training, approximately 45 GSP officers participated in the training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Daniel Snider)

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Moody Airmen host riot training for local state troopers

A member of Georgia State Patrol’s Mobile Field Force stands in the haze of smoke grenades Nov. 16, 2016, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., during riot training. Moody facilitated this training by providing the Military Operations in Urban Terrain village, a training area consisting of buildings, obstacles and gravel roads. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Daniel Snider)

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Moody Airmen host riot training for local state troopers

Georgia State Patrol’s Mobile Field Force police officers stand together during riot training as Airman 1st Class David Gardener, an 822nd Base Defense Squadron security forces apprentice and riot role-player, attempts to break through the line Nov. 16, 2016, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Airmen were directed to behave differently each time a scenario began to test the GSP officers’ responses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Daniel Snider)

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Moody Airmen host riot training for local state troopers

Published Nov. 22, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Daniel Snider
23rd Wing Public Affairs

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- Airmen from Moody Air Force Base hosted Georgia State Patrol’s Mobile Field Force semiannual riot control training here Nov. 16-17.

The GSP used Moody’s facilities to ensure their readiness for riots while Airmen supported by participating as rioters. The training consisted of both classroom and outdoor portions.

“In this day and age, we’re going to have peaceful protests, and we’re all about that,” said GSP Capt. Kevin Rexroat, the Troop H commander. “Unfortunately, we’re also going to have some agitators in every peaceful protest. This training gives the troopers a scenario to know what they’re looking for, how to engage and let the rest of the peaceful protesters get their word out.”

Moody facilitated this training by providing the Military Operations in Urban Terrain village, a training area consisting of buildings, obstacles and gravel roads.

“Sometimes, we don’t have the luxury of a facility like this,” Rexroat said. “Most of the places we’ve (trained) have been generally flat areas, such as airport hangars and taxiways. This facility gives us a more realistic scenario of what we’re facing in real-word situations, and it is a great benefit to our troopers.”

Not only did Moody AFB provide the MOUT village, but also added to the realistic environment by role-playing as rioters who yelled, protested and threw debris at the police officers.

Rexroat explained how knowing steps and techniques of crowd control can only take you so far. When an actual person is yelling in the face of a police officer, he or she has to apply those skills in a high-stress atmosphere to keep the peace.

“Most of the time, our goal is to have a command presence,” Rexroat said. “We show the command presence and dictate, just by being there. Our ultimate goal is to keep everything peaceful and not let anything get out of control.”

Not only did having the Mobile Field Force train at Moody AFB aid the GSP, but it also allowed Airmen to see how their civilian counterparts conduct business.

“We got to see what they can do and learn from them,” said Senior Airman Chester Montague, an 823rd Base Defense Squadron fire team member who acted as a riot role-player. “If they have proper training to handle situations like this, it better suits everyone else.”

The GSP reciprocated Montague’s enthusiasm.

“I hope this shows the public the collaborative effort of the military and civilian law enforcement -- that we work together as a team,” Rexroat said.