A Defender’s best friend

Staff Sgt. Grant Meyers, 509th Security Forces Squadron military working dog trainer, wrestles with a military working dog during a bite sleeve scenario at Whiteman Air Force Base, March 23, 2013. Bite sleeve scenarios are used to teach the canines controlled aggression and obedience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

A Defender’s best friend

Staff Sgt. Amanda Cubbage, 509th Security Forces Squadron canine handler, gives her dog, Mina, a chew toy after she completed an obedience course at Whiteman Air Force Base, March 23, 2013. The obedience course teaches dogs to respond to instructions of their handlers so they can provide special capabilities that assist in providing security for personnel and resources on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

A Defender’s best friend

Staff Sgt. Grant Meyers, 509th Security Forces Squadron military working dog trainer, acts as an aggressor as he is bitten by a military working dog while Staff Sgt. Amanda Cubbage, 509th SFS canine handler, supervises during a bite sleeve scenario at Whiteman Air Force Base, April 23, 2013. Bite sleeve scenarios are used to teach the canines controlled aggression and obedience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

Spirit Gate upgrades keep Whiteman safe

Staff Sgt. Stephen Sutterfield, 509th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of confinement facility and alternate NCO in charge on police services; Tech. Sgt. Gregory Bowman, 509th SFS NCO in charge police services; and Senior Airman Christopher Cassmann, 509th SFS assistant police services, discuss training methods about the new, non-lethal net barrier system April 24, 2013, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The barrier system is designed to keep unauthorized vehicles off the installation and reduces risk to security forces when conducting vehicle inspections. (U.S. Air Force photo by Heidi Hunt/Released)

Training tomorrow's Defenders

Airman 1st Class Steven Adler, 509th Security Forces Squadron response force member, looks down his iron sights to scan his area of responsibility during a training exercise at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 16, 2013. Exercises prepare security forces members to respond to real-world threats at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)

Training tomorrow's Defenders

Airmen 1st Class Stephanie Burjass and Joseph Dolan, 509th Security Forces Squadron response force members, help Airman 1st Class Isaac Fox, 509th Security Forces Squadron response force member, don protective equipment before he performs a breeching exercise at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 16, 2013. Breeching exercises prepare Airmen for situations that require them to break into a locked room or building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson/Released)