U.S. Air Force Security Forces Staff Sergeant
This Security Forces Staff Sergeant (E-5) wears the Security Forces blue beret with flash. The current style blue beret was adopted in the 1970s while the cloth Security Forces flash was adopted in 1997. The flash depicts a falcon and the motto “Defensor Fortis” which translates to Defender of the Force. The uniform is the woodland pattern camouflage Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) worn with black colored leather combat boots. A black colored T-Shirt is worn underneath the BDU blouse. The Staff Sergeant is equipped with the Defensor Fortis Load Carrying System (DF-LCS) rifleman’s kit manufactured by Eagle Industries. The DF-LCS was designed expressly for U.S. Air Force Security Forces units. The DF-LCS consist of a MOLLE type H-Harness, one hydration pouch, four double M4 magazine pouches, two triple M4 magazine pouches, three M9 pistol magazine pouches, one first aid pouch, one handheld radio pouch, two fragmentation grenade pouches, Two canteen pouches, and one ALICE adapter. Visible on the LCS is a shoulder mounted microphone/speaker for a Motorola handheld radio. The weapon is a Colt M4 carbine chambered in 5.56 x 45 mm NATO. It is equipped with an Aimpoint M68 Close Combat Optic, an Insight Technology AN/PEQ-2A Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Light (TPIAL), a Surefire flashlight, and a Knight’s Armament M4 Rail Adapter System (RAS) with a forward grip installed. The Staff Sergeant has a quick detach black cloth weapon sling that can be used as a two point sling or as a single point sling. For single point use the weapon is fastened by a snap link which can be seen on the right shoulder strap of the LCS. The M4 carbine also has a shoot through muzzle cover installed to keep the barrel free from dirt and debris. Photograph by Christian Shepherd.
U.S. Air Force Security Forces Staff Sergeant
This Security Forces Staff Sergeant (E-5) wears the Security Forces blue beret with flash. The current style blue beret was adopted in the 1970s while the cloth Security Forces flash was adopted in 1997. The flash depicts a falcon and the motto “Defensor Fortis” which translates to Defender of the Force. The uniform is the woodland pattern camouflage Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) worn with black colored leather combat boots. A black colored T-Shirt is worn underneath the BDU blouse. The Staff Sergeant is equipped with the Defensor Fortis Load Carrying System (DF-LCS) rifleman’s kit manufactured by Eagle Industries. The DF-LCS was designed expressly for U.S. Air Force Security Forces units. The DF-LCS consist of a MOLLE type H-Harness, one hydration pouch, four double M4 magazine pouches, two triple M4 magazine pouches, three M9 pistol magazine pouches, one first aid pouch, one handheld radio pouch, two fragmentation grenade pouches, Two canteen pouches, and one ALICE adapter. Visible on the LCS is a shoulder mounted microphone/speaker for a Motorola handheld radio. The weapon is a Colt M4 carbine chambered in 5.56 x 45 mm NATO. It is equipped with an Aimpoint M68 Close Combat Optic, an Insight Technology AN/PEQ-2A Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Light (TPIAL), a Surefire flashlight, and a Knight’s Armament M4 Rail Adapter System (RAS) with a forward grip installed. The Staff Sergeant has a quick detach black cloth weapon sling that can be used as a two point sling or as a single point sling. For single point use the weapon is fastened by a snap link which can be seen on the right shoulder strap of the LCS. The M4 carbine also has a shoot through muzzle cover installed to keep the barrel free from dirt and debris. Photograph by Christian Shepherd.