United States Air Force Security Forces | |
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Active | 31 October 1997 – present (as Security Forces) 1966 – 31 October 1997 (as Security Police) 2 January 1948 – 1966 (as Air Police) 12 February 1942 – 2 January 1948 (as Military Police)[1] |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Military police Ground defense force |
Role | Military law enforcement Ground defense |
Size | 38,000+ [2] |
Nickname(s) | Defenders[3] |
Motto(s) | Defensor Fortis (Defenders of the Force)[4] |
Color of Beret | Dark Blue |
Website | Official website ![]() |
Commanders | |
Director of Security Forces | Maj Gen Thomas P. Sherman[5] |
Career Field Manager | CMSgt Donald Gallagher [6] |
Insignia | |
Enlisted beret flash | ![]() |
Officer beret flash (superimposed with polished metal rank insignia) | ![]() |
Occupation Badge | ![]() |
The United States Air Force Security Forces (SF) are the ground combat force and military police service of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.[7] The USAF Security Forces were formerly known as Military Police (MP), Air Police (AP), and Security Police (SP) at various points in their history. Due to its ground combat mission, Security Forces are the premier defense force of airbases in both expeditionary and contingency Air Force operations.[8][9][10] This should not be confused with nor compared with U.S. Army(11B) or U.S. Marine Corps(0311) infantry, which are military occupation specialties tasked with initial ground assaults, sustained combat/offensive operations and battlefield occupation to continue strategic advancements. They were formed on the premise of being the Air Force's "Marine Corps", in that they would provide security for the Air Force similar to how the Marines provide security for the Navy.[11]
Security Forces Airmen, the Air Force's infantry, operate with an air-mindedness that incorporates the implications of airpower
Their performance during the 1968 Tet Offensive was praised universally and transformed its image from a police and security organization to one of the Air Force's infantry.
Luper shared Col H. G. Reynolds's earlier vision of the Air Police as the Air Force's 'Marine Corps.'
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