Now that I'm getting back to the grind at home as our Security Forces Operations Officer, I'm constantly being asked, "How was school?" My immediate answer? "IT WAS FUN!" To be honest—and for anyone who has spent time at Camp Bullis or who thinks of technical training and fun as oxymorons and is already rolling their eyes at me—
YES! I had a TON of fun. But then again, that's just me!
The
Security Forces Officer Course (SFOC) at Camp Bullis in San Antonio, Texas was such a different experience for me than any training I've ever attended. Not only was the training filled with tactics, troop leading, contingency operations, and law enforcement principles, it was also a kick-butt experience because I got to stay in a hotel, made life-long friends, and learned so much about everything I'm capable of (which is much more than I thought!) and how motivated and excited I am to be a Defender in the Air National Guard. I don't care if it's cheesy—I'm "ate-up" with Security Forces and this is the
best life I could be living right now.
So let's get to the training, shall we? The 4.5-month (18-week) timeline is broken down below, with photos and a snapshot description of the training we received each week. Have questions about the training? Don't hesitate to leave a comment and ask below!
Week 1 - This was our head-first dive into SFOC and we were still all pretty unsure of what was going on at this point. They had strict rules about not bringing phones to class, so we weren't able to capture any of the initial days. To sum it up, we were divided into squads (three), we took an initial PT test so that we could begin Combat Agility Drills (CADs, a.k.a. group physical fitness training), did the obstacle course, the Leaders' Reactionary Course (LRC) and sat through lectures about Security Forces history within the Air Force and armed forces. We took this photo on our first Saturday outing. This was my squad—Squad 2—the "Mudbloods" at The Alamo.
Week 2 - We spent the majority of the second week at Medina Air Force Base, taking weapons classes and qualifying on most of our weapons systems. I was the 1st In-Charge (1IC) of the class that week, so it was a great chance to test my leadership abilities and learn about the skills I needed to hone in by the end of the course (like my command voice!). We also went for our first weighted ruck march, with a 35-pound ruck (before water) and that was definitely an experience. I got much better, stronger, and faster by the end of the course!
Week 3 - Our third week treated us to our first (of many) Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) rides. We spent the week in the field with many of our other weapon systems, including grenades and claymore mines. I loved throwing the grenades—the
BOOM they make when they detonate is exhilarating to experience!
Week 4 - The fourth week taught us the meat and potatoes of "Shoot, Move Communicate" (SMC). Working in pairs and as groups of four while navigating obstacles and engaging targets was not a bad way to spend a few days. It had
poured down rain the night before we hit the SMC course, so by the end of the day our boots were literally
caked with mud and were so heavy! Our objective was to move through/around obstacles (barriers, trees, rocks, vehicles) in full battle rattle as we communicated with our fire teams to direct them where to go, provide cover, and rotate back and forth between weapons with ease.
Week 5 - Our fifth week taught us the basics of land navigation and surprisingly—despite all the "Lost LT" rumors—I did not get lost! The way this training worked was that they dropped us in a spot as a pair. We began at 0430 so that we could land nav both during the hours of darkness and daylight. We had a compass, protractor, map and pencil and were in full battle rattle with a ruck and weapons. We had three hours to find four points. And we did it twice—so all in all it was about seven hours of field land navigation. The course was rough, the weather was hot, and the morale was high. Land nav was no joke, but it sure was fun! And then the next day? We did it alllllll over again. We were exhausted and finished the week with our first 3 Bears ruck, getting to experience the beast of the hill "Mama Bear" for the first time.
Week 6 - The sixth week introduced Individual Training Tactics (ITT). Similar to SMC, you work in a pair and have to navigate land and obstacles in a tactical, stealthy manner. This was accomplished by performing low crawls, high crawls, back-crawling under barbed wire, trench crawls, wall-clearing, moving as a team through a tactical setting, and lots and lots of simulated fire & smoke. I had sand in all parts of my uniform for weeks after that day!
Week 7 - Our seventh week taught us Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT). Essentially, it's building clearing, moving as a tactical small unit (fire team or squad) up to/around/through a building to clear it of threats. After we practiced the "glass house" version of the training, we went against opposing forces (OPFOR) in one of our field villages, putting to use all the training we received. It was the last of our initial training before we moved out of the classroom phase and into the field, missions, and OPORD phase.
The photo on the right shows our hardest day we had experience yet, and for most of us was considered—by far—the
worst of all of our days at Camp Bullis. It was "Prep for Combat" and was the final day of Week 7, where we were tested from 0315-1230 in multiple scenarios to simulate combat stress. We began by loading up LMTV's at 0315 and driving around in the chilly morning air for 90-minutes. We then fired the M4 with night vision goggles before taking off on a weighted running ruck, sprinting to a spot where we got absolutely
smoked with burpees, push-ups, overhead arm press with our rucks, etc. After our smoke session, we rucked back to begin an 80 min station with physically/mentally demanding scenarios that tested us to simulate a combat stress environment (including up/down field movement drills, 200m crawls through mud and while sustaining fire, liter carries, ammo can carries, and troop movement). I became very fatigued during that station... it tested me! Immediately afterward, we then had a "mind game" station where we put our mental skills to the test and were "punished" for our failures by having to complete over 300 burpees. It was by far the most demanding day we had and just one more reason why I am so glad—yes,
glad!—I have chosen this career field! Days like that show me what I'm made of and are very humbling!
Week 8 - The eighth week was full of ambush & assault drills in the field, finishing with a nighttime raid. Ambushes are a lot of fun and I enjoyed testing our tactics with a full day of scenarios. For the nighttime raid, we had to be in full battle rattle with rucks and camo on at 0230. We had mission briefs, armed up, and were out making our way to our hilltop rally point within the hour. Man, land navigation is difficult but it's even harder at 0400 and over rough, rocky terrain and elevation. Once we found our observation points, our three squads worked together to raid a location against OPFOR. It was a successful mission and we all learned a lot. Also, we were done at 0945! What a way to celebrate St Patty's Day!
Week 9 - Week 9 is taught us about mounted patrols (in a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)), dismounted patrols, Warning Orders (WARNOs) and Operation Orders (OPORDs). We also did HMMWV training, rollover training, and a convoy simulation. It was very cool! Midway through Week 9, we were put to the test when we received our first mission drop and had 30-minutes to come up with a WARNO. As Squad 2's Second in Command (2IC), I was part of the OPORD planning team and spent most of the evening planning the following day's mission. That morning, we set out on our surveillance and sweeping mission against OPFOR. The day was relatively quiet until two OPFOR came directly at me while we were halted. I shot them both (with blanks!) and sustained a shot (simulated) in the leg. My guys wrapped me up and evacuated me off the hillside super quick. That moment made me realize how glad I was to be part of such an amazing group of SF BAD-A's!! Mission SUCCESS! That week lead us into the same type of training we would be doing for the next few weeks.
Week 10 - Week 10 brought more adventure! Over 70 Defenders from the Combat Leader Course (which we call the CLC and is made up of SF Staff and Tech Sergeants) and Security Forces Officer Course (us!) prepared to initiate the largest training operation in years at Camp Bullis, successfully raiding an enemy compound and ambushing reinforcements. Week 10 also involved mission planning and execution progress checks. It taught us troop leading, strategic planning, and gave us a feel for all of the responsibilities we will encounter if we get deployed. We showed up each morning, ran a "mission," came back, got a new mission, planned that mission all night (2-4 hours of sleep) and then would run that mission the next morning. That was our life...
on repeat... for two more weeks. They switched up our roles every day so some days I was in charge of the entire 35-person flight or our 12-man squad, and other days I was a gunner, driver, pace counter or fire team leader, etc.
Week 10 ended with a—what we thought—final mission which was set to be done in the early afternoon. Cadre threw us a curveball and when we returned from our mission, they dropped another WARNO and we had 10-minutes to pack our things before heading out for a 24-hour mission that evening. I was
so bummed because Daniel was coming into town the next day and I was certain I was going to miss him. Needless to say, the 24-mission was a true test of our resiliency and tactics, and after it was all finished I was able to spend the weekend with my sweetheart. It was a much-needed break from the training and all the motivation I needed to finish the last 8-weeks strong!
Week 11 - The eleventh week was more missions that included Traffic Control Points (TCPs), raids, ambushes and key leader engagements. We were putting all these weeks of missions to prep for the following week where we would put practice into play for five solid days of missions during our non-stop overnight field training exercise.
Week 12 - Our twelfth week was our Field Training Exercise (FTX) which was much-dreaded but ended up being a lot of fun! We spent five days in the field with no running water, bathrooms, etc. We took shifts on base defense, mission squads, and a Quick Reaction Force (QRF). Each day was filled with new missions/scenarios and we combined all of our mission practical application and applied it to one solid week of combat operations. We destroyed the enemy forces and had lots of laughs, tactical maneuvering, dirt, sweat and ammo along the way!
Week 13 - This week was all about convoys and we finally were in the home stretch of missions. See the party hats above? That was our last OPORD on our last day of missions... we had made it! I won't do this specific job since we don't run convoys like this from my base, but it was great training for my other classmates. I basically just drove a HMMWV around all week and ate sunflower seeds. No complaints there!
Week 14 - The fourteenth week began our law enforcement (LE) officer phase. We began to learn about what I'm actually doing now that I'm at my home station and what our Defenders do at their daily jobs to protect and secure our base, resources, and personnel. The shot above was from our last day of the week where we finished strong with a 35-pound weighted ruck up 3 Bears. Can you tell we were soaked in sweat? It was a great workout--GO SQUAD 2! We only had four-more weeks to go!
Week 15 - The fifteenth week included Taser, oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray, and law enforcement tactics like handcuffing, searching and seizing. I had been previously tased and OC sprayed at my home base, so I was personally not looking forward to doing it again. But hey, you do what you have to do, right? I was able to opt out of the Taser, but did not have a choice with OC. To begin the OC progress check, we first were sprayed in the face (two side to side shots). After being sprayed, we had to run at a "red man" and hit them 5 times with a baton, run at another offender, draw our weapons, and verbally challenge them to get on the ground. Once they were down, we had to handcuff, double lock and detain them. And all of this was AFTER being "pepper" sprayed. I was able to complete it without an issue—though I did have a mad-runny nose!—and I have to say, it was no better (nor worse) the second time. It was all terrible! I'm hoping that was my last time encountering that nasty orange stuff.
Week 16 - The sixteenth week continued our law enforcement phase with baton training and another go at the LRC. Baton was something entirely new for me... it took me a while to get used to, but once I got the feel for a good strike, it was a lot of fun! I definitely gave some powerful strikes and got even more fired up when took a couple hits in return. Oh man, two full minute rounds with the red man was no joke! Let's go again, HOOAH!
Week 17 - When we finally arrived at Week 17 (of 18!!!) it was very surreal. We finished the week with combatives, the obstacle course, and a six-mile ruck on 3 Bears in honor of National Police Week. We did our miles in honor of those who serve alongside us and in memory of our fallen defenders and police officers. We were so excited that the end was in sight.
Week 18 - Jamming out the last few days of Week 18 was no big deal. We had a final PT test, ran our final 3-Bears ruck, and took care of some basic housekeeping items before graduation at the end of the week. To finally don the beret and join the Security Forces Officers' corps was
BY FAR the greatest honor of my career. I was SO happy to simply graduate, and when I was presented with one of three "Distinguished Graduate" awards, it was absolutely the icing on the cake. That final day was one of the best days of my life... I now get to follow the footsteps of those who went before me with honor, pride, excellence, valor, heritage... the list goes on. "Upon the Shoulders of Giants..." Truly, I am so blessed to be a DEFENDER. HOOAH!
And here are some photos from adventures I took around San Antonio with my classmates in our downtime. We tried to make the most of every weekend—checking as many boxes on our Texas to-do list as possible! The weekends were what helped get us through... "Weekend Please!"
We often loaded up our rucks and hit the 3 Bears trail for a leisurely ruck and some good UV rays. We didn't have as much time—nor energy!—for this toward the end of the course, but it sure was fun while it lasted. We resorted to other forms of recreation toward the last few weeks.
One of our favorite weekend venues was Cowboys Dance Hall. Some of my classmates taught me the basics of country swing and we had a blast!
One weekend we donned skates and "chilled" (ha!) with the kiddos at the local ice rink. That was a fun way to beat the San Antonio heat and do something different.
Paddleboarding in Austin was one of my favorite recreational adventures. I ended up paddleboarding four times over three different weekends... I couldn't get enough!
The Guadalupe River was a treat on the hot days. We would load up our vehicles and coolers and head to the river for a four-hour lazy float. We always finished the day in Gruene with some good honky tonk music and margaritas at Cantina Del Rio.
Taking the boat out on Canyon Lake was super fun. We made some good memories that day!
The San Antonio Spurs were in the NBA playoffs while I was down there, and I was able to attend two Spurs games. The crowd down there is
wild and they ended up winning both games I attended. If only they had made it through to the championship... if only!
True Austin tourism at its finest was found at Barton Springs. I spent a couple afternoons in their natural spring pool soaking up the sun or swimming some easy laps.
One of my buddies was a big fan of the Chainsmokers, so when we found out they were having a concert we jumped right on the tickets. That was a fun night!
All in all, SFOC was by far the best training I've ever received. It wasn't only great because of the tactics and leadership techniques we were taught—it was great because of my fellow Defenders, the incredible cadre who got to know us (and joked with us!) along the way, and the lessons that I was able to bring home and will be able to practice for the rest of my life... all of that, and some insanely great memories and laughs that I will hold on to forever. (#RUCKTHIS!)
The Defender life is a pretty legit path to be on. I couldn't be happier to have endured those 18-weeks and to now wear the police shield and beret with pride and honor. Seriously, I couldn't ask for more.
Honor, Serve, Excel... and of course, in the words of the fallen Defender 1st Lieutenant Joseph D. Helton, Jr., "
Don't be a weaksauce."
PS //
Watch my SFOC Class 0170123 video here!
