Training pays off Published July 13, 2009 By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- "Pay attention to the training because it will come in handy in the future," is a saying most Airmen have learned, but for one Tyndall security forces member, his training may have just saved his life and the life of his troops. Tech. Sgt. Joshua Derezotes, 325th Security Forces Squadron flight sergeant, used his contingency skills first hand during his deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq in December 2007. While deployed with the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Sergeant Derezotes served as assistant squad leader and truck commander. His 13-man squad conducted many area security operations on a daily basis, which were combat patrols outside the wire. It wasn't until February 2008 when the sergeant's high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle or was hit by an improvised explosive device, which almost cost them their lives. "It was Feb. 16, and we were conducting our routine ASOs," Sergeant Derezotes said. "Everything was running smooth and the traffic was light all day." But smooth quickly turned violent. Approaching a couple of hot spots marked by previous IED attacks, the squad had already began their precautionary measures. The time was 4:47 p.m., when his unit began to travel from North Port to South Port. Sergeant Derezotes, Charlie flight humvee truck commander, followed behind Alpha flight and Bravo flight, while Delta flight truck trailed behind. "We were coming up on a sign with a black diagonal cross through it," he said. Then he remembered a bright flash, he said. His truck was hit by an IED. "It felt like time stopped," Sergeant Derezotes said. Automatically, the sergeant and his three troops checked themselves and each other for injuries. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" shouted one of the NCO's in the humvee seconds later after the initial blast. Flames flared up from the rear of the humvee. Sergeant Derezotes evacuated everyone from the vehicle onto the field, ordering his troops to cordon off the area and sweep for secondary IEDs. Meanwhile, the truck commander took fire extinguishers from the other humvees and tried to control the fire. "The fire was mass chaos, but controlled," he said. "There were 15 gallons of JP-8 fuel, grenades of all sort and thousands of m240 large machine gun ammo aboard the humvee." The troops maintained security on the truck until it fully burned out. Ten hours later, after the burning stopped, a forklift was able to pull the truck back inside the wire. X-spray was then used on locals nearby the IED attack to detect any explosive residue on them. Upon return to the base, the Airmen were checked by squadron dedicated doctors, followed by after action reports. "I've trained in tactics for four years, and to actually see them applied in real world combat was amazing," Sergeant Derezotes said. "You see how things just stick in your head when you have a good attitude about your training." The Illinois native said he considers himself very lucky to be alive. Sergeant Derezotes said the IED's explosive charge was connected to an approximate 25-pound explosively formed penetrator. Most EFP are 12 lbs and lethal. This one should have killed everyone in the vehicle. "It was a definite life changer," he said. "The things you took for granted, you don't anymore." Despite the life-threatening experience, some positive points did come out of it. "It was a very humbling experience seeing 18- and 19-year old Airmen conducting themselves professionally under those harsh circumstances," he said. "I will take the leadership I gained most away from this event. There is no other place I'd rather be than leading my troops in the battlefield." Eight hours after the attack, Sergeant Derezotes and his troops were right back outside the wire. 08 when the sergeant's high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle or humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device. "It was February 16 and we were conducting our routine ASOs," said Sergeant Derezotes. "Everything was running smooth and the traffic was light all day." But smooth quickly turned violent. Approaching a couple of hot spots marked by previous IED attacks, the squad had already began their precautionary measures. The time was 4:47 p.m., when his unit began to travel from North Port to South Port. Sergeant Derezotes, Charlie flight humvee truck commander, followed behind Alpha flight and Bravo flight, while Delta flight truck trailed behind. "We were coming up on a sign with a black diagonal cross through it," he said. Then he remembered a bright flash. His truck was hit by an IED. "It felt like time stopped," said Sergeant Derezotes. Automatically, the sergeant and his three troops checked themselves and each other for injuries. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" shouted one of the non-commissioned officers in the humvee seconds later after the initial blast. Flames flared up from the rear of the humvee. Sergeant Derezotes evacuated everyone from the vehicle onto the field, ordering his troops to cordon off the area and sweep for secondary IEDs. Meanwhile, the truck commander equipped fire extinguishers from the other humvees and tried to control the fire. "The fire was mass chaos, but controlled," he said. "There were 15 gallons of JP-8 fuel, grenades of all sort and thousands of m240 large machine gun ammo aboard the humvee." The troops maintained security on the truck until it fully burned out. Ten hours later, the burning stopped and a forklift was able to pull the truck back inside the wire. X-spray was then used on locals nearby the IED attack to detect any explosive residue on them. Upon return to the base, the Airmen were checked by squadron dedicated doctors, followed by after action reports. "I've trained in tactics for four years, and to actually see them applied in real world combat was amazing," said Sergeant Derezotes. "You see how things just stick in your head when you have a good attitude about your training." The Illinois native considers himself very lucky to be alive. According to him, the claymore was connected to an approximately 25-pound explosively formed penetrator, while most EFP are 12 lbs, and should have killed everyone in the vehicle. "It was a definite life changer," he said. "The things you took for granted, you don't anymore." Despite the life-threatening experience, some positive points did come out of it. "It was a very humbling experience seeing 18- and 19-year old Airmen conducting themselves professionally under those harsh circumstances," he said. "I will take the leadership I gained most away from this event. There is no other place I'd rather be than leading my troops in the battlefield." Eight hours after the attack, Sergeant Derezotes and his troops were right back outside the wire.