DAGRE program sharpens SFS skills

Published Jan. 31, 2008
By Jasmine DeNamur
919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

DUKE FIELD, FL -- The bruised and exhausted Airmen were each called to the stage to receive their "diplomas" in recognition of their passage through what some outsiders would describe as sheer hell.

Three 919th Security Forces Squadron reservists and their active-duty counterparts endured Air Force Special Operations Command's Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element program Oct. 4 - Dec. 14, an intense 11-week course specializing in unique combat training techniques for use in high threat contingency areas.

The main purpose of the program is to ensure proper protection of AFSOC assets as they go to different locations throughout the world, whether they are higher threat locations or locations deemed necessary for protection, said Master Sgt. Dale Zmuda, AFSOC program, manager for operations and deployments and primary DAGRE instructor for fitness, tactics and exercises.

Master Sgt. William Stapp, Staff Sgt. James Parrish, and Senior Airmen Ricky Stevens were lined up on stage Dec. 14 with stamped Strider knives that are only given to DAGRE graduates. This was their diploma.

"The DAGRE course provides some of the most comprehensive and versatile combat and defense training available to security forces personnel. We went home smoked every night," said Sergeant Stapp.

The program encompasses a wide range of specialized training to include survival skills, edged weapons, advanced academics, unarmed combat, advanced tactics, and the Air Force's PHOENIX RAVEN program, which focuses on the protection of Air Mobility Command aircraft in austere locations, said Capt. Michael McGee, 919th SFS and AFSOC interim division chief of security forces.

"One of the unique courses we took was Krav Maga, which is hand-to-hand combat based on what the Israeli Defense Forces train by. Because some countries don't allow the removal of weapons from U.S. aircraft parked on their turf, we learned several techniques vital to protecting ourselves without firearms," said Sergeant Stapp.

In fact, this is the very reason the Strider knife is assigned to DAGRE personnel. Because the knife is considered a tool and not a weapon host nations allow servicemembers to use it when visiting in-country.

The students were also placed in the driver's seat to learn defensive and offensive driving tactics comparable to what occurs during many police car chases.

"We learned defensive driving tactics, such as how to bust through illegal checkpoints, pit vehicles, counter pit maneuvers, and shoot from moving platforms," said Sergeant Stapp.

"We got to do everything a kid playing with a toy car wishes he could do in real life," he said.

For members interested in the program, they may want to consider that though it is exciting, fast paced and energetic; the DAGRE program is very intense and requires an immense amount of dedication.

"This is not a part time job; it's not for the faint-of-heart or the unmotivated. DAGRE is a lifestyle and you have to be willing to immerse yourself in it," said Captain McGee.

The three Duke Airmen are the first Reserve team to complete the program and are also part of the second graduating class. The first 919th SFS reservist to complete the program individually was Senior Airman Shawn K. Roberts, who graduated in June 2007.

"The training provided to our Airmen is world-class training and teaches skills that will benefit the member, the units, AFSOC, and now AFRC (Air Force Reserve Command)," said Captain McGee.

"There seems to be a stigma associated with reservists in that we don't live up to active-duty knowledge or performance standards - I completely disagree. We should be able to operate alongside and integrate with our active-duty counterparts, and reservists graduating from this program prove just how much we are willing to push the boundaries and excel beyond that stereotype," he added.

"If you are willing to take the challenge, we are willing to make you one of the best warriors Air Force Reserve Command can put 'in the fight.'"