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315th Ravens on display at USAF Security Forces Museum

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt Joe Simms
  • 315th AW Public Affairs
LACKAND AFB, Texas --  The U.S. Air Force Security Forces Museum, Lackland Air Force Base Texas, recently displayed a flight suit belonging to Master Sergeant Robert Grimsley, Raven 543, 315th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base S.C.

The museum, the only one if it's kind in the world, opened more than 30 years ago to preserve the history and heritage of the security forces career field.

"While looking around at all the exhibits I asked the manager why there were no displays of the Raven program," said Sergeant Grimsley. "The manager advised me that all they had was a Raven patch and they needed a flight suit and the other patches that go along with it."

The Phoenix Raven Program was developed in 1997 to provide discrete, low-visibility security ensuring the protection for aircraft where security is unknown or inadequate to counter local threats. Their mission is to detect, protect, inform, communicate and report.

Ravens must complete an intense three week training course covering hand to hand combat techniques and force protection and anti-terrorism measures. Upon completion of this training each graduate receives a number that is displayed on their flight suit.

"Every student that graduates receives a specific number identifier that stays with that member during the course of their career and when they leave the Air Force," said Tech. Sergeant Steven Smith, Raven 1569 315th AW Security Forces. "The number will not be reissued to another Raven."

The 315th SFS Ravens have participated in various missions including Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Coronet Oak, and most recently Operation Unified Response in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.

The 315th SFS currently has six certified Ravens.

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