KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- Hundreds of Soldiers from throughout the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz footprint participated in a three-day long course designed to train Soldiers on the proper procedures for conducting installation access control.
Guard force training consisted of eight separate classes spread over an eight-week period and taught Soldiers a multitude of force protection measures from escalation of force to proper vehicle search procedures.
According to said Staff Sgt. Germell Johnson, the physical security inspector for USAG-RP and a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., commanders across the area are sending their troops to the training in order to be prepared in the event Soldiers have to take over responsibility at the gates.
After conducting classes for eight weeks, instructors were able to use previous classes to continually improve on the course in order to provide Soldiers with the best training experience in a short time.
"The last week has worked out as the best week," said," said Johnson. "Going from week one to week eight and having (after action reviews) after each course has helped us to solidify the training."
Soldiers learned how to properly conduct operations at the installation access control points to ensure the security and safety of the personnel working and the families living on the many bases throughout the area.
"The training is important because we need to know the proper way to do things in order to protect the base, our loved ones and our battle buddies that live on base with us," said Sgt. Joshua Overton, a human resources noncommissioned officer with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command and a native of Beech Grove, Ind.
Pfc. Michael Pierre-Louis, an intelligence analyst with the 21st TSC and a native of Gaithersburg, Md., agrees.
"It's important because it reinforces what everyone should already be able to do," said Pierre-Louis. "As a Soldier, you should be able to guard a post."
"While Soldiers here already receive troop diversion training, which focuses on a higher force protection condition, guard force training handles security at the lower FPCONs," said Johnson. "Soldiers need to understand the differences in what level threats are out there and how to properly conduct operations at the gates."
On the final day of training, Soldiers were given hands on instruction on the type of work they would be doing at the gate.
From using the installation control access system personal digital assistants to scan identification cards to conducting vehicle searches and individual pat downs, the Soldiers learned a multitude of techniques to ensure the security at the gates remains high.
Overall, Soldiers learned how important installation access control is. Those who work at the main gates are the first line of defense for the many thousands of servicemembers, civilians and family members working and residing on the bases.
"Everyone here took the training seriously so that we all will know how to do the job correctly if called upon," said Overton. "I know I can rely on my battle buddies to have my back."
"The training was great, and I know we'll be successful if the Soldiers have to take over operations at the gates," added Johnson.
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