United States Air Force Security Forces

Not to be confused with United States Air Force Security Service.

United States Air Force Security Forces
Security Forces Shield
Active31 October 1997 – present (as Security Forces)
1966 – 31 October 1997 (as Security Police)
2 January 1948 – 1966 (as Air Police)
12 February 1942 – 2 January 1948 (as Military Police)[1]
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force[a]
TypeMilitary police
Ground defense force
RoleMilitary law enforcement
Ground defense
Infantry
Size38,000+ [2]
Nickname(s)Defenders[3]
Motto(s)Defensor Fortis
(Defenders of the Force)[4]
Color of Beret  Dark Blue
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Commanders
Director of Security ForcesMaj Gen Thomas P. Sherman[5]
Career Field ManagerCMSgt Donald Gallagher [6]
Insignia
Enlisted beret flash
Officer beret flash (superimposed with polished metal rank insignia)
Occupation Badge

The United States Air Force Security Forces (SF) are the ground combat force and military police service of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.[7] The USAF Security Forces were formerly known as Military Police (MP), Air Police (AP), and Security Police (SP) at various points in their history. Due to its significant ground combat mission, Security Forces are sometimes regarded as Air Force infantry.[8][9][10] They were formed on the premise of being the Air Force's "Marine Corps", in that they would provide security for the Air Force similar to how the Marines provide security for the Navy.[11]

  1. ^ a b "SECURITY FORCES HISTORY" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Col. Brian S. Greenroad Bio". afsfc.af.mil. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  3. ^ "SF History". defendermagazine.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  4. ^ Latin phrase translation.com Archived 10 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine Literally, "Protector of the Powerful", but per Pinckney 148, intended as "Defender of the Force".
  5. ^ "BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS P. SHERMAN". AFSFA.
  6. ^ "20th Security Forces Career Field Manager Selected". careerinfoclub.com. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Space Force Briefing". U.S. Department of Defense.
  8. ^ Rempfer, Kyle (26 November 2018). "Air Force base defenders upgrade weapons, training and fitness standards to meet near-peer threats". Air Force Times. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  9. ^ Lt Col, USAF, Jack L. Sine II (15 February 2012). "Discovering Air Force Identity: Airpower and Innovators" (PDF). USAF Air War College, Air University (United States Air Force). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019. Security Forces Airmen, the Air Force's infantry, operate with an air-mindedness that incorporates the implications of airpower
  10. ^ Secrest, Justin D. (27 March 2013). "Air Force Security Forces Professionalism for Leaders" (PDF). USMC Command and Staff College. p. S-14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019. Their performance during the 1968 Tet Offensive was praised universally and transformed its image from a police and security organization to one of the Air Force's infantry.
  11. ^ "DEFENDERS OF THE FORCE: THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SECURITY FORCES 1947 – 2006". CiteSeerX 10.1.1.692.5000. Retrieved 15 July 2020. Luper shared Col H. G. Reynolds's earlier vision of the Air Police as the Air Force's 'Marine Corps.'


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