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AIR FORCE LIGHT INFANTRY
1041st SPS (T) - 82nd CSPWg - 821st CSPS - 822nd CSPS - 823rd CSPS
820th SFGp - 822nd SFS - 823rd SFS - 824th SFS
"JOINED TO FIGHT"
History of the
Combat Security Police
During the initial involvement of the USAF Security Police units
in the Vietnam insurgency, internal security of remote and
vulnerable air bases continued to be carried out under the long
existing concept of providing internal protection against the
covert threat of sabotage.
Well planned attacks by organized guerilla raiding parties on
three of the major air bases in Vietnam forced the USAF to
redirect its attention from internal security to providing a
well trained and well armed, highly motivated combat security
police force capable of repelling raids by experienced enemy
sapper units.
A security survey was conducted by the USAF Inspector General in
the Republic of Vietnam in 1965 and presented to the Chief of
Staff, USAF with the recommendation that a test unit of highly
trained Combat Security Police be formed to initiate a new
concept, known as "Active Defense."
The development of tactics to support an active defense program
would require knowledge of infantry tactics not common to normal
security police operations.
With Chief of Staff concurrence, recruiting for the special
program began in the CONUS in early 1966. After careful
consideration, the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning,
Georgia was selected as the training course for the original
cadre of the test unit. Personnel selected through personal
interview were sent to Fort Benning and began the first class
Ranger School to include USAF personnel on 4 May 1966.
Designated by the code name "OPERATION SAFESIDE", the 1041st
USAF Security Police Squadron (Test) was formed at Schofield
Barracks, Hawaii, and prospective trainees began arriving at
Schofield from throughout the CONUS and PACAF.
On 13 January 1967 the 1041st USAF SPS (T) arrived at Phu Cat
Air Base, an essentially bare base operation in the Central
Highlands of Vietnam whose runway was still under construction.
During this period 13 Jan to 4 Jul 1967, the 1041st secured its
Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR) of 9.3 square miles of
jungle and rice paddies with active defense tactics developed
during its training phase at Schofield Barracks. These tactics
included daylight recon patrols, forward observation posts
during the day and listening posts at night, operation of
tactical motor patrols with gun jeeps, sweep and clear
operations, relocation of areas of population, and the use of
the primary tactic in active defense operations: The ambush
patrol.
The 1041st prepared for its departure from Vietnam by training a
specially organized flight of volunteers from the 37th Security
Police Squadron at Phu Cat Air Base in the application of active
defense tactics. Most of the special application combat
equipment and vehicles were left in Vietnam for use by 7th Air
Force Security Police units. The special flight trained by the
1041st amassed impressive results in applying the tactics taught
them.
This resulted in the acceptance of active defense tactics by
many units throughout 7th Air Force. On 4 July 1967 the 1041st
was airlifted from Phu Cat to its temporary bed down site at
Fairchild AFB, Washington. On 21 January 1968 the 1041st was
placed under the operational management of the Tactical Air
Command (TAC).
The Combat Security Police program received official approval
from the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Air Force on 1 July
1968. Prior to that date, due to a urgent request from
Headquarters 7th Air Force for more Combat Security Units in the
Vietnam theatre, the unit was redesignated the 82nd Combat
Security Police Wing and on 8 March 1968 was sent TDY to
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii to establish a training site for two
CSP units on an immediate basis. The 821st Combat Security
Police Squadron was formed and received an accelerated training
course and then deployed to Vietnam. A second unit, the 822nd
Combat Police Squadron was also formed, trained and deployed
from the Schofield site.
Upon completion of the training of the 822nd CSPS, the 82nd
Combat Security Police Wing and the USAF Combat Security Police
School were transferred to the permanent location at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky.
The 821st CSPS was deployed to Phan Rang AB, RVN on 13 April
1968 and relieved a Battalion of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne
Division, and took over their Base Camp. In August 1968 the
821st was relieved by the 822nd CSPS. In February 1969 the 822nd
was relieved by the 823rd CSPS. In August 1969 the 821st
returned to Phan Rang and relieved the 823rd. The 821st was
deactivated from Vietnam in February 1971.
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Safeside Association - 2005 -2009 All rights reserved.
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