Doing it All: Security Forces--The USAF Coin Force

Security Forces have transformed dramatically in the last twenty years. This transformation has been a continuous process, but may be broken into three distinct periods separated by key events the 1996 attack on Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia and the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. Each distinct phase of Security Forces transformation differed with respect to mission, organization, deployments, and training, requiring Security Forces to change mission focus to meet the emerging challenges. Some view counterinsurgency COIN operations as community policing on steroids, and therefore propose it as a logical next step for Security Forces. Security Forces have already demonstrated the ability to operate successfully outside an air base and build relations with the local populace. Security Forces have also demonstrated the ability to assume and execute new missions with great success. This thesis investigates the research question Can Security Forces assume the COIN mission if so, what challenges must the force overcome and what changes must it enact to be effective In order to support a new mission, Security Forces must transform organizationally, solve the problem of increasing rates of deployment by resolving the inherent supply versus demand conflict, and refocus training on new mission sets to ensure deploying airmen are given the tools to be successful. The lessons learned from the challenges Security Forces faced and largely overcame during the transformations following the Khobar Towers and 911 attacks are significant. The Air Force must be mindful of these difficulties should it choose to have Security Forces adopt COIN operations as a new core competency.