The Personal Security Detail forms a military formation. The
members of the Personal Security Detail are Staff Sgt. Alvie Lucero,
Spc. Albert Nelson, Spc. Leif Watkins, Spc. Tonna Harrison, Spc.
Jude Gabaldon, Pfc. Christopher Byers. Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Anna
Doo, Sept. 17, 2011
|
|
PRISTINA, Kosovo (9/26/2011) - Always watching, always ready, always
protecting. The mission of the Personal Security Detail is to
protect and serve the commander. The three tenets of the PSD are to
protect the commander from bodily injury or death, to protect from
kidnapping and to protect from embarrassment. The team of ten
soldiers is assigned to serve as the commander's senses while
simultaneously maintaining a low profile.
Staff Sgt. Alvie
Lucero, noncommissioned officer in charge, said they received
additional training during pre-mobilization and ongoing training
throughout the deployment on driving techniques, weapon handling
techniques, urban operations and methods of blending in while
simultaneously shielding the commander. As trained military police,
each of the members of the PSD has a background in military law
enforcement and the schooling that is required to be awarded the
occupation. Some of the members have additional civilian training.
“I'm in law enforcement back home,” said Spc. Bernard Harrell.
“I've worked as personal security detail with the Secret Service.
It's more challenging on the military side because it can be more
intense depending on the situation.”
That situation is wholly
dependent on the location, time of day, posture of the local
residents toward the commander, and a slew of additional factors
that each member of the team must be aware of prior to ever jumping
into their vehicles. Amongst their numerous daily duties, the PSD
must reconnoiter unknown sites before the commander travels to them
in order to understand the lay of the land, obstacles, threats and
to be able to brainstorm entry and exit strategies should the need
arise. |
It's a job without accolades though, said Lucero. “There
are many facets, but we are always in the back,” he said.
“There's very little glory in it except for personal glory.
We always have to show a presence but at the same time not
be in the area.”
One of the key abilities of this
team is their state of constant readiness. Many nights are
short, and days are long.
“Everyone has an overnight
bag packed,” said Spc. Jude Gabaldon, the assistant to the
chief of staff. “Our gear is always staged, ready to go.”
The most difficult part of being a member of the close
protection team is to explain their function and purpose to
those who do not see them as a necessary entity, said
Lucero. But on the flip side, the ability to work with so
many other nations' protection teams is one of the best
facets of the job, Gabaldon said. One example of this
integration was during the Pristina 9/11 remembrance at the
opera house in Pristina.
Gabaldon said, “At the opera
the other night we got to work with the [Kosovo] president's
close protection team. We get to be the first line of
defense for other leaders. We work hand in hand with mayors.
It's great to work with other nations. We got to work with
the Germans and Austrians and others.”
This
interaction and total coverage is what keeps the job
exciting. Sgt. Kevin Wilkinson said he enjoys the constantly
changing battle field.
He said, “One second we are in
a city at a meeting with politicians. The next second we are
in a helicopter going to the middle of nowhere. It's
exciting being in an urban environment looking for the
dangers and then in the natural environment looking for
different dangers.”
The team members mentioned that
being part of the PSD is a thinking person's game requiring
them to be on alert at all times. This high operational
tempo keeps the group in a ready state of preparedness to
always fulfill their mission of keeping the commander safe
and secure.
By Army Staff Sgt. Anna Doo
200th Public Affairs Detachment
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
Comment on this article |
