Intro Usaf (safeside)

[Dan Goodell]

Vietnam Combat Security Police Here....
Just found this site.... I am an american veteran of the Vietnam war (821st CSPS) 82nd Wing

 

[Bombardier]

Welcome Dan
Glad you found us. What is CSPS? excuse my ignorance I am a Brit.
Its 0100 in the morn here and i am off to bed now.
Speak soon.
All the best

 

[saiga]

Welcome! I´ve read very little about the 821st (the Williams´ story), can´t wait to talk to you

 

[Admin]

Welcome Dan
Glad you found us. What is CSPS? excuse my ignorance I am a Brit.
Its 0100 in the morn here and i am off to bed now.
Speak soon.
All the best

Cancel bombardiers last question your tags answer it clearly. CSPS = Combat security police squadron

Welcome

 

[zeroalpha]

Welcome buddy

 

[Razzle]

glad to meet you mate

 

[Dan Goodell]

Operation Safeside was the US Air Forces answer in 1967 to better protecting it's air bases in Viet Nam. (designated, Combat Security Police) It was a first of its kind Air Force light infantry unit with specialized training in both air base defense and offensive operations. It was primarily an all volunteer unit. The 82 Wing trained at the US army facility at Schofield Barracks Hawaii which at the time the intense training was considered Air Force ranger school. It was later moved to Fort Campbell Kentucky. The 821st (550 members) was the first of three squadrons (822nd, 823rd) to be deployed to Viet Nam which relived a battalion of US army 101st airborne at Pleiku. (stationed with/next to Austrian and Korean units) They were then deployed out to air bases with the highest threat levels. The 821st did two tours of duty in Viet Nam, 68 and 70. The unit was totally deactivated in 1971. Safeside was reactivated in 1996, based out of Moody AFB and extremely active in todays battlefield all over the world.

For more information google "Safeside Association" The units motto is JOINED TO FIGHT

 

[Bombardier]

Very similar I would imagine to our RAF Regiment. Thanks for the information Dan

http://www.safesideassociation.org/

 

[Pretorian]

Think your right bomber, does seem very like the RAF Regt. welcome Dan and thanks for enlightening us Brits accross the pond

 

[Dan Goodell]

Welcome! I´ve read very little about the 821st (the Williams´ story), can´t wait to talk to you

You may be referring to the Brian Williams story. I believe much of his story is in his imagination but what I am sure of is, he was a horrible excuse of an officer. ... this is verified by many of the men that served under him

 

[Bombardier]

@saiga have you read any of this"Brian williams Story"? I have not but from what Dan is saying the evidence supports he was not a good officer to say the least. what was williams writing about...... In fact I will take a look myself and report back.

 

[Bombardier]

You may be referring to the Brian Williams story. I believe much of his story is in his imagination but what I am sure of is, he was a horrible excuse of an officer. ... this is verified by many of the men that served under him

This is interesting Dan, do you have any online references to this guy?

 

[saiga]

Wow, didn´t know that, as I´ve said, I´ve read very little.

 

[Dan Goodell]

I hate to point this deadbeat guy out but Saiga had made mention of his name so I thought I should address it. I am very protective of the legacy of Safeside and particularly of the 821st. The unit performed at the highest degree possible with a very difficult mission. There was a lot of infighting and protecting of turf going on in 7th Air Force at the time regarding the Safeside mission. Without a doubt, the battlefield was much more secure in Vietnam with operation code named Palace Dog 33, the Combat Security Police (Safeside) Hindsight is 20/20 and in 1996 Safeside was reformed an is an very important aspect of the US Air Force mission.

This Brian Wilsons "story" can be found at: Air Force “Ranger” Training Provokes Personal Moral Issues ...
http://www.brianwillson.com/air-force-ranger-training-provokes-personal-moral-issues/

Bombardier, you are exactly right, Safeside is very similar to your RAF Regiment. There is a brotherhood attachment between them that dates back to 1966 and the original Safeside test unit which was designated the 1041st. Due to the shortage of US trainers in this discipline, (US Army and Marines didn't want much involvement), Great Britain assisted and sent cadre to support the new USAF mission. To this day Safeside trains with the RAF .. not positive but I think they have worked together in the desert

 

[Bombardier]

Just read the link and at it was obvious that this guy just didn't want to be there and his ramblings were disgruntlement about being posted to a unit against his will, however as I read on he is also self critical about his suitability for the assignment he had been given. He was clearly against the war but seems to suggest he could have performed in a less combative role within the Air Force ( A little hypocritical). I wondered while reading it if he had gotten his way with his preferred posting in the AF, if he would have had his anti-war views or would he have lapped up the easier life drinking cocktails in the evening, and in later life writing about how great his time in Vietnam/Air force was and what great leadership he had.

I have to admire his self critique to some degree but he fails his brothers by suggesting that some of them were misfits within the Air Force.

just a few "Off the Cuff" thoughts about it for now will read it in more depth later (as time allows).

Happy to know that our RAF regiment have been involved with Safeside, it may interest you to know that the RAF Regiment do get a lot of stick from other Brit military units, it is more about banter/jokingly than a real dislike of them. The British army prides itself on the Piss take / poking fun at each other.

Here is a PDF about the RAF Regiment and at page 231 it talks about their involvement with safeside
http://forcespublishing.co.uk/pdfs/through_adversity.pdf

 

[Bombardier]

Oh yes something else I meant to say.
It seems that there is a lot of chatter about being a "Volunteer" for safeside at that time and the negative appears to come from those that would rather have had the easier life in a non safeside post within the AF.

I joined up as an Artillerymen in the British Army and have to say (in my ignorance) never thought I would have to serve in Northern Ireland as an Infantrymen, but I did and got on with it. Some of my most memorable and enjoyable times were in Ulster. I was proud to do whatever I was asked because I took the Queens Shilling and followed orders, then made the best of it .

If I had any political views about "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland I would not use them to denigrate my unit or my comrades

 

[Pretorian]

Interesting Video

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