News

Security forces police Kadena AB

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nick Przybyciel
  • 446th Airlift Wing
Responding for a call for help, 13 Reservists from the 446th Security Forces Squadron deployed to Kadena AB, Japan, Feb. 28 to backfill a base depleted of security manpower.
Headquarters Pacific Air Force called for the manning assist at Kadena, where deployment taskings left the base’s security forces squadron undermanned. The McChord team returned March 31, after an odd 31-day deployment.
“Normally the minimum tours are 60 days, and they are funded directly by the Security Forces Center at Lackland (AFB, Texas),” said Master Sgt. Lyndon Deboma, 446th SFS operations manager. “PACAF funded the tour because they were that much in need of a squad to go to Kadena and backfill.”
Led by Master Sgt. Kenneth Mazzuca, a veteran Seattle police officer, the team handled everything from securing the flightline to apprehending DUI suspects (of which they got three). Aside from police duties, the Reservists also supplemented ongoing training, such as weapons firing.
“Master Sgt. Dan VanZanten and Tech. Sgt. Bob Kampert assisted the combat arms shop with weapons training. Joining the Kadena firing line staff, the two Reserve NCOs helped weapons qualify more than 300 students,” said Sergeant Mazzuca said.
Sergeants VanZanten and Kampert also performed pre and post deployment weapons inspections, and assisted the Marine Corps gunsmith shop at Camp Hansen, Japan, with technical support and training materials.
Weapons training was not all that was provided at Kadena. Other training included the kind that can get you a ticket.
“Tech. Sgt. Mike Pate conducted four Radar/Lidar (speed guns) operators training courses for flight members - including contract Japanese guards - and certified a total of 86 personnel,” added Sergeant Mazzuca.
Valuable experience was also gained by McChord’s Reservists while at Kadena.
“Involvement with numerous security and law enforcement incidents provided great training typically unavailable here,” said Ser-geant Mazzuca.
According to Sergeant Deboma, the 446th SFS Airmen are looking forward to more deployments. The training and experience gained is as valuable to Reservists as the extra hands are to supported units