Sergeant John Prosser, of the RAAF Base Glenbrook Security Police Section, has been invited to participate in the Phoenix Raven course in the United States, where he'll train to provide security for aircraft and VIPs travelling through hostile areas around the world. Photo by CPL Andy Hall

SERGEANT John Prosser will break new ground for the Air Force this month when he flies to the United States to train with the USAF Security Police.

SGT Prosser, senior NCO of the Security Police Section (SECPOL) at RAAF Base Glenbrook, has been investigating how the Air Force's SECPOL mustering can increase its ability to secure aircraft and aircrew while in operational areas.

He now has the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in this area after being offered a place in the Phoenix Raven Program at Fort Dix, New Jersey, where USAF Security Police from across the US are trained to provide protection for aircrew and sensitive cargo from all possible threats.

It is the first time a place on the course has been offered to a defence force member from outside the United States.

"I was excited, I couldn't believe it," SGT Prosser said of his invitation.

"It's going to be beneficial for the mustering and Air Force as a whole.

"We don't have any training like the Phoenix Raven course in Australia so it's a great opportunity for me to gain skills and come back and establish something similar here."

An experienced Security Policeman, SGT Prosser has worked extensively with the Police Dogs and spent time in Counter Intelligence.

"I was in Darwin just before East Timor broke and spoke to a few US Raven team members who were there," SGT Prosser said.

"I got on really well with the members and through our conversations I was able to learn the benefits of having such a capability. Since then I have been working towards acquiring a placement on the Raven program."

He said this opportunity was the "next step" in his career.

At Fort Dix, SGT Prosser will be trained to provide top-notch security for aircraft, VIPs and personnel travelling through potentially hostile areas around the world.

Raven team members are part of the aircrew and are required to "blend in" until a situation arises.

After completing the course at the end of August, SGT Prosser will be attached to the Headquarters Pacific Air Force Anti-terrorist/Force Protection Unit at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

There he hopes to consolidate his training by participating in operational flying.

SGT Prosser said he hoped to pave the way for more Air Force members to participate in the course.

And when he arrives home in September, he aims to do what he can to lay the foundations for a parallel training course here in Australia.

"It's important to have members with these skills, especially in the current world security climate."

By Ben Caddaye