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15 March 2003 |
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Security forces at Europe's largest fighter base have called in American army troops for the first time in 35 years. Since September 11, the 400-strong 48th Security Force Squadron has been working a punishing 65-hour week to cope with the heightened security at RAF Lakenheath. Trading Puerto Rica's high temperatures for six months in Suffolk, more than 100 soldiers from the US equivalent of the Territorial Army, will boost USAF security staff. Company A of the 192nd Puerto Rica National Guard, who gave up their day jobs to be here, yesterday paraded past the media singing marching cadences – something rarely heard at the airbase. Officers denied the guard was here to further heighten security as war with Iraq looms, saying long hours had taken their toll on security staff. The guard has been training in Fort Dix, New Jersey, for four weeks learning security rules, ready to start work on Monday. Lt Col Bill Delaney, commander of 48th Security Force Squadron, explained plans had been in place since September 2001 to bring the guard to England. They were last here in 1967. "The division is here to provide my squadron the time to train for other types of engagements they are asked to do in other parts of the world. They have not had the opportunity to do that since September 11. "Our guys have been doing extended hours, working 65 hours over five days, and the guard force will relieve some of that. They will work alongside us rather than instead of us in our primary role of force protection." Capt Adlyn Pedraza, commander of Company A of 192nd Support Battalion of the guard, said soldiers were eager to start work. "My soldiers will train for force protection. At Fort Dix we had a lot of training on everything we're going to be doing here, like vehicle search and so forth." The troops are first of a series due to come to the base over the next two years.
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15 March 2003 |
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MEMBERS of the American National Guard have been undergoing training at RAF Lakenheath before taking on the role of protecting the staff and equipment at the base. The soldiers from the Puerto Rico Army National Guard will be working alongside members of the 48th Security Forces Squadron to carry out entry control and search procedures at the base, as well as patrolling the flight-line. Lt Col William Delaney, commander of the 48th Security Forces Squadron, said: "This deployment has been planned since September 2001 as a result of the increased
security since that terrible, tragic event.
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