As intimidating machines are loaded with weaponry and skilled pilots are sent to fly through some of the most dangerous areas of the world, it is important to remember the men and women who make their mission possible by keeping them and their maintainers safe before takeoff.

The Sailors of Security Department work diligently around the clock to ensure aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) is one of the safest places in the world.

The 88 security force personnel are charged with the responsibilities of keeping good order and discipline and ensuring more than 5,000 Sailors currently aboard Ike are protected from a variety of possible threats. All security personnel have to go through weeks of training to understand and learn the proper levels of force to use in a given situation. They are taught the necessary restraints, learning to use the least amount of force possible to control a situation.

"I think our presence alone aboard the ship is a deterrent," Chief Master-at-Arms Carly Bohannon said. "When they come out of training, they know how to stand the watch. They've been tested over a series of events and have passed them by protecting the ship every time."

Bohannon explained the presence of the ship's security force is like that of local police officers. If you have security personnel present, the crew feels safer and better protected from someone who would want to commit a crime.

At the core of the ship's security force are the masters-at-arms. These law enforcement professionals are augmented by Sailors from other departments sent on temporary assigned duty (TAD) to Security Department. These TAD assignments often last for a year or more, but TAD personnel say they feel integrated into the force.

"I think we do our best to keep people safe," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) Airman Blane Davidson, who is on TAD to security. "We'll be the first ones to walk around and correct people if they don't shut hatches or keep water-tight integrity -- things that affect the whole crew."

The security force divides Ike into zones to patrol, and it is through those patrols they keep order throughout the ship. When one of the patrolmen comes across a discrepancy, they have to address it.

"Sometimes people get out of hand; they get stressed out and we need to know how to protect ourselves," Davidson said. "Where some people have the leisure to walk away and report, we don't. We have to do something about the situation right then and there."

After nearly 2 1/2 months of being underway, Sailors aboard Ike get into a routine and may become complacent, forgetting military bearing or ignoring safety regulations.

"Since we've been out here so long, some people start to slip a little bit," Master-at-Arms Seaman Justin Hastings said. "They start to not want to follow the rules just because it's easier to break them than to follow them. Security is here to remind people that the rules are there for a reason."

To know what to do in a situation, security personnel go through training to help them understand how to handle a hostile situation. Everyone who is on TAD to security has to go through Security Reactionary Force-Bravo (SRF-B) training. SRF-B teaches Sailors a variety of skills, such as how to use a baton and how to maintain control of an uncertain situation.

"Knowing about the weapons and the responsibility of the weapons is one thing we hold very dear and of value to us," said Hastings, "because, unfortunately, if it has to be used, it could actually take a life and that is a major responsibility."

Wielding the training, skill and authorization to keep peace and order aboard the ship, ashore and underway, Bohannon is confident the ship's security force is prepared to protect the crew against any adversity through leadership and teamwork.

"I am very proud of the team," said Bohannon. "It takes every single one of them to be able to be trained to stand the watch."

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