7 SFS ensures safety of 30,000 spectators during airshow Published May 7, 2010 By Senior Airman Stephen Reyes 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- When 30,000 spectators and supporters amassed on Dyess Air Force Base, hundreds of members of the 7th Bomb Wing were ready to support them, including the 7th Security Forces Squadron. Security forces Airmen spent months preceding the Dyess Big Country Airfest planning and preparing to help make it a success. Thirteen teams including command and control, Tye gate search and entry control, distinguished visitor parking, traffic control and flightline gate entry supported the overall airfest mission. Augmentees consisting of officers and enlisted alike assisted with parking and crowd control. Volunteers from the Abilene Police Department, Tye Police Department, Taylor County Sheriff's Office and Department of Public Safety highway patrolmen assisted with crowd control and security. "I had the pleasure of being one of the representatives for Taylor County Sheriff's Office, in support of Dyess security personnel at this year's air show," said Officer John Cummins, Taylor County Sheriff's Office. "During the airshow, your security police were both extremely professional and courteous during the entire day. Every SP officer I was around that day seemed genuinely glad that we were there, and did their part to welcome us to the base." More than 200 security personnel worked the airshow and approximately 4,250 vehicles were checked through the gate. The security forces and local law enforcement worked 12-plus-hour shifts, while volunteers worked six-hour shifts. "An airfest is an incredible amount of work by an awful lot of people," said Airman 1st Class Sean Cummings, 7 SFS. "It can be exhausting." Planning for the event began months before the airshow. Whether it was security forces planning entry control points, Public Affairs advertising and hyping up the event, services figuring out how many meals they would need or protocol coordinating distinguished visits and equipment, everyone was squared away before the first aircraft approached Dyess. "I think the show went better than expected," Cummings said. "Security forces employed all our members as well as several augmentees and volunteers, ran hundreds and hundreds of background checks and worked for weeks on the best ways to prepare for thousands of spectators, while keeping the base secure with anti-terrorism in mind." "Everyone has done such an outstanding job," Cummings said. "I'm so proud of our people. We have a team here at the 7th Security Forces Squadron that strives for excellence every day, and the flawless execution of this major event is just another example of that excellence."