Undercover organization's achievements spotlighted

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Identify, neutralize, eliminate; this is the function of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Air Force's plain-clothed warriors. Every day, AFOSI agents put their lives on the line by eliminating threats outside and inside the ranks of the Air Force. It can be a thankless duty, with public recognition limited by the sensitivity of their work.

However, the efforts of the agents of AFOSI Detachment 306 at Dover Air Force Base, Del., were too good to go unrewarded. Det. 306 was named the Small Detachment of the Year at the AFOSI command level March 6, 2012, beating approximately 80 other offices to earn the highest decoration available to a small AFOSI detachment.

"We were very pleased to receive this honor because, as the nature of our duty requires, many of our agents' hard work goes under the public radar," said Special Agent Kimberly Chang, the commander of AFOSI Det. 306. "In a career field where deserving agents are typically not even submitted for base-level awards due to mission sensitivity, this acknowledgement means a lot to us."

But what goes into an awards package of such an organization, one that many Airmen know of based only on rumors and hearsay? Special Agent Mathew Ferguson, superintendent of AFOSI Det. 306, provided a view into what makes a top-notch AFOSI outfit tick.

This award is the culmination of strong leadership and superior performance at agent level while integrating incoming agents, supporting contingency operations overseas and supporting law enforcement as well as conducting criminal, counter-intelligence, and fraud investigations throughout Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland, said Ferguson.

What's more, Det. 306 accomplished these missions with a manpower pool strained by deployments.
With a small detachment, the loss of a handful of agents can significantly impact the mission, said Chang. In order to overcome these challenges, Det. 306 relied on the support of their neighbors on base.

"Without the relationships we have with the base populace, we could not do what we do," said Chang.

This partnership had mutual benefits, explained Ferguson.

"No one on base can do their job without us doing ours first," he said. "AFOSI helps guarantee the safety of flights, cargo, food and distinguished visitors moving about the base. I feel it's the best job in the Air Force."

The sentiment seems to be shared throughout Det. 306. In spite of the daily challenges, the work atmosphere remains fun and interesting said Chang. This could be partly due to AFOSI's unique ability to pick from the best personnel offered by the enlisted, officer and civilian workforce.

"Our agents are the best of the best; the quality agents offer from the 'get-go' prepares us to go into any work environment and gives us tools to tackle any challenge," said Ferguson. "We all build up from a shared foundation. Then we take our knowledge and share it with the next generation."

Ferguson encourages any Team Dover member who aspires to join the newest generation of agents to step forward by calling 677-2852. Senior Airmen through technical sergeants will be considered.