While many of his fellow Americans busied themselves with
holiday preparations, a local high school graduate found himself
charged with protecting a vital military munitions storage facility
in a hostile environment. He knew immediately that something was up
when a group of men approached, asking him questions, scanning the
munitions facility behind him and acting a little nervous.
While many of his fellow Americans busied themselves with holiday preparations, a local high school graduate found himself charged with protecting a vital military munitions storage facility in a hostile environment. He knew immediately that something was up when a group of men approached, asking him questions, scanning the munitions facility behind him and acting a little nervous.
When the men in the group produced weapons and started firing, Army Spec. Jerry D. Goodman, a 2002 graduate of Live Oak High School, immediately sprang into action to defend the valuable military resources under his protection.
After a brief but vicious fire fight, half of the attackers lay neutralized on the ground with the remainder in custody. Then the leader of the group looked Goodman in the eyes and said, “Nice job, soldier – those were tough defenses.”
This ringleader was no Iraqi insurgent and his target wasn’t a military encampment in Fallujah. This was an Air Force security forces instructor putting Goodman and the U.S. Northern Command’s quick reaction force concept to the test during a recent exercise here at Lackland Air Force Base outside San Antonio in the heart of Texas, right amongst the holiday preparations.
“My job duties here involved maintaining security within the compound and the base,” explained Goodman. “I also practiced and learned how to conduct personnel and vehicle searches.”
This was the third in a series of quick reaction exercises designed by U.S. Northern Command to ensure it has the capability to carry out its homeland defense mission by rapidly deploying ground forces throughout the nation to respond to terrorist threats on American soil.
The exercise, that took months to plan and train for, but only a day to pull off, had Goodman and his fellow soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Hood, Texas, fly into the area on just a few hours’ notice, set up camp, and assist Air Force security at the base in random vehicle searches, as well as conduct base patrols, provide security for an ammunition facility and secure a detention center.
