SFS, AFOSI pair investigations for increased support

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tony Wickman
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  A recent change to the relationship between the 71st Security Forces Squadron and the local Air Force Office of Special Investigations detachment is expected to save time and resources while increasing each unit's ability to better serve the base.

On March 24, the 71st SFS investigations office and AFOSI Detachment 438 collocated in the AFOSI building here.

Special Agent Skip Wheeler said pairing the 71st SFS investigations with AFOSI was a natural progression at Vance, especially in light of decreased manpower and increased demand.

"We are all in one building now. We share investigative oversight of each other's cases and can support each other," Special Agent Wheeler said. "It makes it easier to determine who owns the case and increases our ability to ensure that no incident or case gets overlooked.

"This pairing takes advantage of each organization's established relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and that will help us accomplish our respective investigations," he said. "Also, another benefit is if there was a threat to the base, we can make all the notifications at the same time and our response times will be that much faster."

It's a relationship that Maj. Herb Meadows, 71st SFS commander, welcomes with open arms.

"I'm excited to see the proactive and collaborative approach AFOSI Det. 438 is taking in terms of synthesizing the manpower, investigative resources and law enforcement capabilities of both of our organizations to better serve and protect Vance Air Force Base," the major said.

The 71st SFS mission is to defend Vance so the wing can conduct its operations unimpeded. It does this through force protection and antiterrorism programs and air base defense operations, as well as law enforcement, resource protection, combat arms and military working dog programs.

AFOSI investigates a wide variety of serious offenses, including espionage, terrorism, crimes against property, violence against people, larceny, computer hacking, acquisition fraud, drug use and distribution, financial misdeeds, military desertion, corruption of the contracting process, and any other illegal activity that undermines the mission of the U.S. Air Force or the Department of Defense.

Capt. Brandon Shade, 71st SFS operations officer, said the changes can will help increase each other's effectiveness.

"The combination of 71st Security Forces investigators and AFOSI special agents brings a synergistic approach to fighting criminal and terrorist activity. While the two agencies have always worked closely, this effort makes it more official and serves to strengthen the relationship and efforts even more," the captain said. "It combines two outstanding agencies with similar missions to provide a concentrated focus in protecting the members of Team Vance."