Scott Air Force Base in Illinois will serve as one of the first tests in replacing security forces airmen with a civilian police force. These civilian officers, who will wear battle dress uniforms and blue ball caps, will work all manner of security and law enforcement on the base, not just act as gate guards. The 375th Security Forces Squadron at Scott has faced a continual manning shortage, since security forces airmen spend two months in deployment training before deploying for six months and then must retrain for base duty. Scott has 24 slots it is trying to fill and is conducting training to see who will pass a standard physical fitness test, firearms qualification, and instruction at the Veteran’s Affairs Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Ark. Being a vet is not a requirement, but those undergoing training at Scott are all former service members. (Scott report by A1C Amber Kelly-Woodward)
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…