BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – The 104th Fighter Wing has received two domestic operations trailers to help fulfill its mission to serve the community, commonwealth and nation anywhere it is needed.
Senior Master Sgt. Dana Thayer, logistics superintendent for the 104th Security Forces Squadron, was integral in acquiring the trailers.
"Over the years, Air National Guard responses have increased substantially and range from inaugurations, civil unrest, festivals, hurricanes, floods, counter-drug and border security," said Thayer. "As such, our capabilities and tools as a security forces squadron must evolve as well to counter threats outside of our base."
The trailers are multipurpose and can equip a 13-person security forces squad with command and control capability.
"Our DOMOPs trailers are versatile and can assist in operations such as rescue, recovery, traffic and control point operations to civil disturbance operations," said Master Sgt. Wayne Wilson, 104th SFS.
The trailers are climate controlled with heating, air conditioning and a generator for power supply. They are compact enough to fit inside C-130, C-17 and C-5 aircraft and are quickly deployable worldwide via air or land.
"We are very appreciative and grateful to receive the trailers from the NGREA (National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account)," Thayer said. "In October, we will be using them at the Boston Marathon to assist with our security and anti-terrorism operations."
During a June readiness exercise, security forces transformed the trailers into a base defense operations center to conduct operations remotely.
"We moved the trailers outside of Barnes during the exercise to simulate working at a different forward operating base," said Wilson. "This was valuable training for our members as it was our first time setting up and using the new trailers."