BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. — The Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th and 233rd
Security Forces Squadrons teamed with BSFB’s active component 460th Security Forces
Squadron to establish and provide 24/7 real-world security for the Grand Junction Forward
Basing Operation exercise at the Grand Junction Regional Airport, Grand Junction, Colorado,
July 15-18, 2025.
“This exercise provided us not only a great opportunity to flex the muscle of establishing
expeditionary air bases, but also allowed us to work with both our Active Duty and 233rd
counterparts,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Justin Child, commander, 140th SFS. “Those
relationships will be critical in reacting to emerging threats or local emergencies.”
The joint training event between the COANG’s 120th Fighter Squadron and the 419th Fighter
Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was an integration between the two units’ fighter aircraft at
training ranges in Utah. The 140th SFS received a support request to fill a manpower shortage
during the exercise and stepped up to work alongside their fellow defender units.
“The 140th SFS consistently works hand-in-hand with 460th SFS to secure the assets on BSFB
24/7, 365,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. William Thompson, operations superintendent,
140th SFS. “We felt it was an important opportunity to continue to build and maintain good
relationships with fellow “defender” units, allowing us to support each other in times of need.”
Throughout the exercise, the 140th SFS, alongside the 233rd and 460th, established
successful 24/7 security, implementing a robust plan that encompasses personnel security,
access control, and continuous monitoring to protect sensitive information and assets around
the clock.
“Successful integration from the three different security forces units was critical to establishing
24/7 security for our F-16s at a regional airport,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christopher
Cassmann, security forces team lead, 140th SFS.
Each squadron brought their unique capabilities to the table during this mission providing a
learning opportunity. Both the 460th and 233rd focus their security on Protection Level One
resources, while the 140th focuses on flightline security and Agile Combat Employment
missions.
While they are different types of security, “It’s honestly the same concept when you’re boots
on the ground, everyone knows the basic concept of security,” Cassmann said. “It doesn’t take
much to pull people from different units and put them together and let them take off on their
own, which is what we saw.”
This integration made the entirety of the exercise a seamless and successful collaboration.
By training together, these units forged stronger bonds that are vital for successful real-world
missions. This familiarity allows the squadrons to easily supplement each other, improving
overall operational capacity. Throughout this exercise, the 140th Wing demonstrated a strong
commitment to operational readiness, tactical excellence, and seamless collaboration—
ensuring not only its own mission readiness but also strengthening partnerships across the
U.S. Air Force.
“The 140th SFS learned the value of relationships with other security forces units, highlighting
the ability to integrate with short notice to secure our nation’s assets anywhere, at any time,”
Thompson said.
The routine mission of the 140th SFS is to secure Air Force assets and personnel, protect the
state and nation, and forward deploy forces at any time and any place. The squadron is
responsible for the safety and security of assigned and transient aircraft, Anti-Terrorism/Force
Protection programs, and provides Combat Arms Training for all Air Expeditionary Forces
assigned to the 140th Wing. One of the most heavily deployed squadrons in the Wing, the 140
SFS provides highly trained “defenders” to the Air Expeditionary Forces.
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