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From Air Police to Security Forces: Defenders have protected Airmen since 1947

  • Published
  • By Christa D’Andrea
  • Profession of Arms Center Excellence
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  Defensor Fortis, when translated, means “strong defender.”

These words, which all Security Forces Airmen know, repeat and declare as their motto, ring true throughout the latest Heritage Today video from the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence.

“Defenders” tells the story of one of the Air Force’s most notable career fields through the eyes of a Security Forces Airman.

“We are the first line of defense. Defensor Fortis. Defenders of Airmen, defenders of our assets, defenders of our core values,” narrates Master Sgt. Mike Howard, Course Manager, 343rd Training Group, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Howard, a 19-year Security Forces Airman, was selected to be the voice of the video following an audition at JBSA-Lackland.

According to Brig. Gen. Andrea Tullos, “This video is an important visual reminder to our Defenders of their connection to the Defenders who walked in their boots before them and how what they do every day, regardless of where they are operating, connects to delivering our nation’s airpower.”

Tullos is the Air Force’s Director of Security Forces -- a career field that is more than 38,000 Airmen and civilians strong. In Fiscal 2017 alone, more than 5,000 new Airmen will join the Security Forces ranks.

The Security Forces mission is to defend the base to allow Airmen to carry out their missions safely, according to Chief Master Sgt. Tamala Hartz, Security Forces Career Field Manager.

“We do this through the execution of law and order, integrated defense and nuclear security, and we also have dog handlers and combat arms specialists enabling the execution of our mission,” she added.

This is the second Heritage Today video featuring a single career field.

Tullos stated that this video should reinforce the fact that “Airmen should feel a sense of pride in the heritage of our force and their role as Defenders in delivering airpower for our nation.”

“Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, Defenders are standing post all around the world, “Hartz said. “There has never been a time when the Defenders were not standing watch and defending the nation. Being a Defender is hard and sometimes a thankless job, but they are critical to the execution of the Air Force mission.”

Each video in the Heritage Today series is linked to the core values and is designed to inspire and promote critical thinking and group discussion. It also links Airmen through stories of Air Force heritage connected to current real-world Air Force operations. The series is just one of the many tools PACE offers to help Airmen build strong teams and organizations that are centered on a foundation of commitment, loyalty and trust.

To learn more about PACE and access the available tools, visit www.airman.af.mil.