DVIDS – News – 379th ESFS FAST; the “Elite-21”

The 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Fly Away Security Team is a unique group of 21 Airmen who provide low-visibility, low-visibility security that provides protection to U.S. Air Force aircraft transiting through airfields where security is unknown or deemed inadequate to address local threats.

When the evacuation operations in Afghanistan began, it was clear that FAST was the right team to help aircrews carry out their missions at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

According to Staff Sgt. Taylor Cyr, 379th ESFS FAST member, throughout the evacuation, their mission was to provide ground protection in Kabul to crews and sister services, assisting with the loading of evacuation passengers, ensuring in-flight safety, providing first aid to evacuees, and ke
sping peace while on the ground at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
“To put it simply, our mission was to ensure the safe delivery of airmen and evacuees from HKIA to Al Udeid Air Base,” Cyr said.

During these operations, their missions ranged from 12 to 51 hours.

“After landing and all passengers safely disembarked from the plane, the plane was cleaned up, the weapons were handed over and all members were processed by the base and re-registered at the operations center. “said Cyr. “We would then be transported to collect food and return to our rooms. Once we got into operations, our FAS (Fly Away Security) coordinator would initiate an eight hour rest timer and after that we would go straight back to the mission.

This team of 21 airmen was responsible for the evacuation of approximately 30,000 people from Afghanistan through 130 combat sorties, more than half of the approximately 57,000 evacuees who passed through Al Udeid air base.

“Our FAST members have exceeded all expectations,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Butler, commanding officer of the 379th ESFS. “Their bravery and determination, flying mission after mission in a dynamic environment, were essential in ensuring the safety and security of the crews, planes and passengers evacuated during the largest humanitarian airlift in history. “

Although the hours were extreme and the missions hectic, Cyr was able to connect with the operation on a personal level.

“Being the father of two little girls, I was always in touch with the children,” said Cyr. “It brought me extreme happiness to see these girls who now have a chance to grow up without risking oppression from the Taliban and can do whatever they want in this world without fear of persecution.”

FAST was nicknamed “Elite-21” for the hard work of the 21-Airmen team during evacuation operations.

“Technology. Sgt. Brendan Young, [a 379th ESFS FAST member]nicknamed us “Elite-21” during operations, and it stuck, even our leaders now call us that, ”Cyr said. “We had a lot of tough times, and he wanted to remind us that what we were doing was important and that we were setting the standard for the units around us. For 21 people doing what we did is crazy and hard to believe. We carried out 130 missions in 15 days.

According to Cyr, the evacuation operations were grueling and terrifying, but one of the most rewarding experiences he has ever had the privilege of being a part of.

“To quote [379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander] Brig. General Gerald Donohue: “We have just recruited the next generation of American aviators,” because of our efforts, “said Cyr. “I would say, yes we did.”