Creek Defender: training for deployment

BAUMHOLDER, Germany — Moving from building to building, clearing rooms, securing and detaining opposition forces and covering danger zones, security forces members put into practice what they learned at the Creek Defender Regional Training Center.

The goal of the two-week-long course, which began May 10 and ended May 24, was to train and prepare security forces Airmen in the tactics and war fighting methods being used in today’s War on Terror.

“We’re training at Creek Defender for deployments downrange,” said Tech. Sgt. Mervin Perez, a 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron member acting as fire leader for team two during the training. “We’ve got people here going to various areas downrange and we’re honing our skills.”

All of the students have gone through some form of training before, such as clearing buildings, so the training they received at Creek Defender built upon what they already learned.

“We have 21 core tasks we train on,” said Master Sgt. Robert Rabjohn, 786th Security Forces Squadron superintendent of operations for the regional training center Creek Defender. “For example, this training in the military operations on urban terrain village is where we train for urban operations and urban warfare. They learn all the techniques for react to contact, entering and exiting dynamics, entrances and weapons discipline.”

Though the course was a strenuous one and the weather was sometimes uncooperative, the students realized the importance of the training.

“Regardless of how the weather is, our main focus is to adapt to whatever surroundings we’re in,” Sergeant Perez said. “The training teaches us, if anything, to adapt to our environment.”

As with most training courses, trainers were on hand to critique and give instructions.

“The cadre are doing really well,” the fire team leader said. “If we mess up, the cadre let us know. If we do all right, they don’t let our heads get big. They let us know, ‘hey, good job, but you could have done this.”

Not only did the training provide the students with an opportunity to improve their skills, but it also gave them an idea of what they could expect downrange.

“We use training aids, such as smoke and opposition forces all dressed up to show what the troops going into these deployed locations could face when they’re in country so they get an understanding of what they can expect,” Sergeant Rabjohn said.

Overall, Sergeant Rabjohn said he thinks Creek Defender training is “invaluable and has proven itself time and again to be worth the effort.”

But what made the training invaluable?

“Creek Defender has a staff of cadre that is second to none in my opinion because of their experience, desire and drive to get the job done and teach it right,” the superintendent said. “I think training the students here is something any one of us is going to consider the highlight of our career.”