OSI sweeps off-limits areas, help ensure Airmen’s safety

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  As darkness blankets Wichita Falls, all manner of miscreants and criminals descend upon the city.

Like all towns, like all cities everywhere, Wichita Falls has its criminal element. Whether drug trafficking or violent crimes, it has its demons to face.

Fortunately for Team Sheppard, the men and women of Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 411, don't wait for these darker elements to find Airmen. They go out searching, they go out protecting.

OSI conducted sweeps of local area hotels and off-base establishments Aug. 3 in an attempt to be proactive and help prevent the use of drugs and instances of sexual assault, said Special Agent Christopher Bode, AFOSI Det. 411.

"We protect the Air Force from all sorts of threats," Agent Bode said. "But sometimes we have to protect the Air Force from itself."

Agent Bode said there are two common denominators in Airmen in Training drug use and sexual assaults: hotel rooms and alcohol.

According to Air Education and Training Command Instruction 33-2216, non-prior service Airmen may not rent or visit, whether on or off base, any hotel, lodging, apartments or homes. Airmen in phase three may visit such a place with approval from their assistant flight chief or higher.

Some of the local-area hotels that were swept were selected due to their high rates of crime, with sexual assaults, physical assaults and drug use common. Agent Bode said these hotels are selected by AiTs for some of the very same reasons criminals choose them. The hotels are extremely cheap and those who rent them can be as loud as they want.

"The rules are not there to bust up their fun, but to keep them safe," said Investigator Jennifer Baxter. "The hotel parties with alcohol are breeding grounds for the potential of more dangerous activities and violent crimes."

Unfortunately, these hotels and establishments attract the sorts of criminals that even have OSI agents on a heightened state of alertness when they must visit them.

In fact, known criminals and drug traffickers watched as OSI agents questioned AiTs about their presence at an off-limits area.

Agent Bode said even as they were apprehending the Airmen, OSI had to be watchful for the safety of the Airmen and the agents on scene.

While OSI didn't set out to look for under-age drinkers on the sweeps, it was a common occurrence with almost 30 of the Airmen caught in off-limits areas doing so.

Agent Bode had some advice for Sheppard Airmen who may be thinking about visiting area hotels or breaking the rules.

"Have fun, enjoy your time at Sheppard," he said. "But follow the rules. The rules are in place for a reason."

Discipline for underage drinking and being in an off-limits area will be handled by the AiTs squadron leadership. In addition, two AiTs were found in the presence of narcotics. That incident is still under investigation.

Agent Bode said the evening was a success. He said he hopes those Airmen who were found in violation of the rules will not only learn from their mistakes, but help others learn from them, too.

If you witness or suspect illegal activity, please contact OSI at 676-1852.