MEDICINE LODGE, KS, US Fighting fire with flight

Four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters piloted and crewed by Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment (two from Army Aviation Support Facility #2, Salina, Kansas and two from Army Aviation Support Facility #1, Topeka) joined the Anderson Creek wildfire fight March 26. The helicopters arrived in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, Saturday morning, and are dropping water from Bambi Buckets™ on active flames and hot spots as directed by incident officials. The fire in south central Kansas has burned more than 400,000 acres. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Zachary Sheely/Released)

Kansas Adjutant General's Department
Story by Sgt. Zach Sheely

The Anderson Creek Fire scorched approximately 400,000 acres of rural Oklahoma and Kansas land, with approximately 273,000 acres affected in Barber County located in south central Kansas, making it one of the wildfire in Kansas history, according to the Kansas Forest Service.

With the help of scores of professional and volunteer firefighters; the Kansas National Guard and an advantageous snowstorm that dropped nearly three inches of snow on the burn zone the morning of March 27, the fire is nearing full containment.

"We were fortunate enough to have the National Guard aircraft mobilize to help out here on the Anderson Creek fire - Kansas side," said Mark Masters, fire operations director, Kansas Forest Service Incident Management Team.

The rugged terrain made it difficult for ground-based fire crews to access all of the areas affected, and that's why the Kansas National Guard aviation assets were needed.

"This terrain is pretty challenging," said Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. "Much of Kansas is flat, but here you've got canyons and a lot of our fire trucks can't get into these areas. The troops have done this in other states so they get to use that experience here in Kansas."

Four Black Hawk helicopters equipped with Bambi buckets and approximately 20 Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard, arrived in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, the morning of March 26 to assist with aerial fire suppression and reconnaissance. The fire was approximately 15 percent contained at the time, according to Gaten Wood, agency administrator for Barber County.

"The ground crews are stating that we knocked the teeth in on this fire and beat it down pretty good," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Steve Hood, KSARNG, who served as the flight control manager. "The civilian agencies in this part of the country do not have any aviation assets, so it's all ground.

"When you get fires this big all the ground guys can do it is try to contain it. With the aircraft and the Bambi bucket, we can really put a lot of water where these guys can't get to. So we can do a lot of cooling of the fire, so the ground crews can get in and knock it down."

The Guard dumped an estimated 124 buckets of water on the hot spots and areas in need, as directed by the incident management. Col. Dave Leger, state Army aviation officer, KSARNG, estimated an approximate 68,000 gallons of water were dumped March 26-27. As of the evening of March 27, the fire containment was estimated to be above 80 percent by incident officials.

Each Black Hawk, which is manned by a four-person crew, scooped water into the Bambi buckets from local water sources to dump on the flames and hot spots. In addition to the aircraft, the 108th sent a fuel tanker truck and another ground support vehicle with two crew members each.

All of the crews fighting the fire received a much-needed break from the windy and dry weather as south central Kansas, including much of the burn area, received an accumulation of up to three inches of overnight snow March 26.

"The timing of the weather was super helpful," said Masters. "We got more moisture than we expected and the timing of getting the National Guard aircraft here and dropping water was helpful. I'm hopeful to be able to put this thing to bed and try to get the local community back to some sense of normalcy."

According to Masters, the teamwork between the fire crews, incident management team and Guard Soldiers came naturally.

"We were working seamlessly as one air team," said Masters. "That cohesion and teamwork was instant as soon as the aircraft landed."

"The integration between us and the guys on the ground has been phenomenal," said Maj. Kevin Kennedy, 1-108th operations officer Black Hawk pilot. "They've been able to zero us in on some of the spots that are inaccessible as well as some of the areas where the fire is just so big it makes more sense to attack it from above."

Many of the Kansas aviation Soldiers have assisted with wildfire suppression in other states, but for most, this was their first fire control mission in Kansas.

"As Guardsmen," Kennedy said. "This is one of the reasons that we joined. We joined so that we could help our brothers and sisters in the event that something happened. The ability to take our training and use that training to help our neighbors is why we got into this business to begin with."

Kennedy was quick to credit the ground crews for the majority of the containment.

"Even though our contributions are probably the most visible," said Kennedy of the Kansas Guard aviation Soldiers, "the people who are making the most difference are the firefighters that are on the ground."

The Guard Soldiers departed Medicine Lodge March 27 to return to their respective home stations in Salina and Topeka.

"Our highest gratitude goes out to the Kansas National Guard for their expertise and professionalism," said Wood. "We couldn't have done it without them."

109th Airmen Call South Pole Home as they package old equipment for shipment north

(From left) Two contractors with the National Science Foundation helped New York Air National Guard Tech. Sgts. Adam Myers, Justin Carkner and Caleb Brumleve build pallets of retro-cargo at the South Pole Station in January 2016. The team was tasked to build and inspect pallets of excess and obsolete materials currently stored at the South Pole Station as part of the newly established South Pole Retrograde Initiative. Myers, Carkner and Brumleve are assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing. (Courtesy photo)

New York National Guard
Story by Tech. Sgt. Catharine Schmidt

AMUNDSEN-SCOTT STATION, Antarctica – Three members of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing called the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station home base for almost two weeks in January as they tackled a new mission for the first time.

The 109th's LC-130 has been flying cargo and people around Antarctica for 28 years using the NSF's McMurdo Station as home base as part of Operation Deep Freeze, the military’s logistical support for the National Science Foundation managed U.S. Antarctic Program.

This year Tech. Sgts. Justin Carkner, Caleb Brumleve and Adam Myers, members of the 109th's Logistics Readiness Squadron's Air Transportation Operations Section, were handpicked for the task of building and inspecting pallets of excess and obsolete materials currently stored at the South Pole.

Their mission was part of the South Pole Retrograde Initiative in which equipment that is no longer needed at the South Pole will be airlifted out to McMurdo and eventually taken off the continent by sea.

The three Airmen were given a goal of building 70 pallets in 12 days. They built 73 in 11 days.

Carkner is assigned to the 109th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Air Transportation Operations section, the section that received the tasking, and has deployed to McMurdo Station as a joint inspector in previous years.

Brumleve, who works with the 109th LRS fuels section, and Myers, who is a firefighter with the 109th Fire Department, were brought on the team as augmentees; neither had ever built a pallet or been to Antarctica.

"The first pallet we built was used as a training aid," Carkner said.

Carkner trained Brumleve and Myers along with two civilians with the NSF who helped out as needed. The team took the first few days to get acclimated to not only the process of completing the job they were sent to do, but also to the harsh environment. Not only are the temperatures well below zero, the station sits at over 9,000 feet of elevation.

"After the first day of work we all said the same thing - the most simple of tasks seemed difficult," Carkner said. "Just by netting the cargo our arms hurt. We chalked it up to not getting the oxygen we normally get so the recovery isn't the same. ... Back home it's a simple task of building a pallet, it was much more strenuous [than at home]."

The team went to the South Pole toward the end of the season, in late January, to have the outgoing “retrocargo” ready to be airlifted at the beginning of next season, when the 109th's LC-130s are already flying missions to the South Pole.

"The pallets will sit on the snow berm over the winter, and when the season starts, they'll start pulling out the cargo we built this year, and it will be a continuous cycle," Carkner said.

Once they had their process streamlined and each had their own task, the pallets they built in their 10-hour work days increased from seven to 10. On Day 11, the team headed back to McMurdo.

All agreed that the new mission is a tremendous opportunity for the 109th to continue demonstrating the wing's value to the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Brumleve said this mission is a great way to retain people who normally don't get to support the unique missions the wing is known for.

"When I first joined, what attracted me to this base was the missions that we do," Brumleve said. "Unfortunately the career field that I held, we don't have a hand in it. ... This is a great opportunity to get a chance to be part of it."

Carkner and Myers said this is a great way to build on the unit's relationship with the NSF and the people working at the Pole.

"It helps the people at the South Pole Station get to know us," Carkner said. "Having a military presence living among the 150-200 people who live at the station, this was an eye opener for them.... We're not just there anymore flying people and supplies; now there's a military presence working among them every day."

The team agreed that the overall experience was a great one.

"The Aerial Port is a great group, and I learned a lot on the trip," Myers said.

"It was a great experience," Brumleve said. "I would go back again and do it, but at the same time if I go back that means someone else isn't getting the opportunity. It's great that the leadership was willing to share [this mission] - we need more people working together."

Leaders within the 109th Mission Support Group said the team did an outstanding job at completing this first mission.

"As [air transportation] we go anywhere, anytime, to get the mission accomplished," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Mann, 109th ATO superintendent. "Deploying members to the South Pole Station just goes to show what we are capable of doing, from doing a site survey in 2015, to having boots on the ice in 2016 building cargo, shows the dedication our members have to getting the job done."

"Chief Mann and team did a lot of planning and coordination with NSF leading up to this first season of support for the South Pole Retrograde Initiative, and it paid off," said Lt. Col. Tammy Street, 109th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander.

"Our team on the ground surpassed all expectations. The lessons learned from this successful first trip will form the groundwork to plan for future seasons of this multiyear effort. I'm proud of our team's hard work in the harsh Antarctic climate, their flexibility, and their outstanding results," she said.

"We're proud that the 109th is able to support polar research in dynamic ways that demonstrates our commitment to meeting programmatic needs of the National Science Foundation," said Col. Jeffrey Hedges, 109th Mission Support Group commander. "The effort by this select team of Airmen exceeded all expectations and highlights the diverse capability that our wing offers."

Cherry Point firefighter earns Marine Corps Civilian Firefighter of the Year Award

Dustin J. Schneider, left, accepts the Marine Corps Civilian Firefighter of the Year Award from fire chief Rodney T. Wade at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., March 3, 2016. Schneider earned the award for excellence in his job performance. Schneider was chosen from firefighters in fire departments across the Marine Corps. Schneider serves with Cherry Point Fire and Emergency Services. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson/Released)

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Story by Lance Cpl. Mackenzie Gibson

Dustin J. Schneider was named the Marine Corps Civilian Firefighter of the Year during a ceremony, here, March 3.
“You can see that it comes naturally to Dustin to take a leadership role, and that’s what sets him apart,” said Jimmy A. Sanders, assistant fire chief of operations with Cherry Point Fire and Emergency Services.
After four years in the Marine Corps, and later as a police officer, Schneider found his calling as a firefighter with CPF&ES in 2008.
According to Schneider’s command, he constantly sets the example for both newer and more senior department firefighters.
Schneider has been interested in firefighting since he was young. He wanted to be a firefighter because he enjoyed helping others, and because firefighting is so dynamic, he explained.
“There is always something to learn,” said Schneider. “As soon as you learn something or master one particular area, another update is coming.”
According to Sanders, Schneider is a trustworthy co-worker who knows what needs to be done and successfully carries out his duties.
“If I give him an assignment, I don’t have to go back and check to ensure it is complete,” said Sanders. “I know it’s done, and it’s done correctly the first time.”
Applications from fire departments across the Marine Corps were submitted for selection. Schneider’s application stood out among his peers because of the many outstanding contributions he made to the fire department during 2015.
Examples include completing more than 360 hours of in-service training, and more than 2,700 duty hours as a driver/operator of the department’s ladder truck with no incidents. He also regularly completed non-assigned duties outside of work, including maintaining the firefighting equipment and taking courses to further his knowledge of his job. Schneider said that he is simply doing his job, and credits the award to his teammates.
“The extra team push makes it enjoyable to come into work,” said Schneider. “No matter what you’re doing that day, you’re going to have a good time while you’re doing it.”
According to Schneider, he wants to stay with CPF&ES until he can retire. Until then, he plans to continue serving his community and make the fire department one of the best in the Marine Corps.
Schneider will go on to compete against the top applicant from each DOD component for the DOD Civilian Firefighter of the Year Award.
“It’s great for him,” said Sanders about Schneider receiving the award. “It’s people like Dustin that make my job a lot easier.”

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HN US, Honduran forces practice personnel recovery capabilities

Airmen from Joint Task Force-Bravo 612th Air Base Squadron Fire Department practice loading a simulated crash victim onto a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a personnel recovery exercise, March 10, 2016, near Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. This was the first participation of firefighters during JTF-Bravo’s quarterly personnel rescue practices, testing their abilities to respond to this type of mission. (U.S. Army photo by Martin Chahin/Released)

Joint Task Force Bravo
Story by Maria Pinel

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras - Service members from Joint Task Force-Bravo, in coordination with Honduran forces, participated in a personnel recovery exercise March 10, 2016, near Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, validating response capabilities and interoperability with the Hondurans.

The exercise consisted of a two-part training plan, involving Honduran familiarization with U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, as well as practices that would help develop valuable security skills during personnel recovery operations.

The scenario involved a simulated crash of a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in an isolated area, with trapped and severely injured individuals. The scenario necessitated special rescue skills and equipment to help rescue the simulated victims, requiring the firefighters with the 612th Air Base Squadron Fire Department to assist the 1-228th Aviation Regiment and Honduran forces in their initial response.

“We conduct quarterly personnel recovery exercises but had never used firefighters before, so the Fire Department tested their capability to extract personnel from a wreckage,” said Capt. James King, JTF-Bravo Personnel Recovery director. “That was the first time we’ve done that here at JTF-Bravo, so this exercise validates that they can assist with their extrication equipment.”

During the rescue and extraction of the victims, Joint Security Forces personnel helped secure the simulated crash site while Honduran forces responded in a protective role, demonstrating how the two teams would integrate in a real-life scenario.

“Building a relationship with the Honduran forces might have been the most important thing that we did,” said King. “If we had any kind of situation, other than a MEDEVAC, Hondurans would be in charge of conducting a recovery, so the fact that we partnered and trained with the Hondurans is key.”

Prior to the rescue training, the Rapid Air Mobile team , formed by the MEDEL and JSF representatives, practiced loading and disembarking the helicopters while the aircraft were off, then running and finally during live take-offs and landings. Other practices included the hoisting of heavy equipment, as well as integrating the JSF and Honduran forces.

“We validated that the RAM team concept works and we showed the importance of needing the JSF team to be able to quickly respond to the incident,” King said. “We validated that we can go out and we can transport them [Hondurans] to an incident if we needed to do that.”

One of the main goals of this Personnel Recovery Exercise is precisely to test this joint operation between the 1-228th, JSF, Medical Element and 612th, as well as host nation forces, integrating with U.S.
helicopters and conduct similar training with other partner nations.

“As we expand our missions into other parts of Central America, we are going to work with similar units and we have to make sure that we build that relationship and capability,” said King. “If we have already exercised something similar we will be much more prepared. That is the big goal, we want to take this concept and apply it to other countries in Central America.”

Exercises such as this one showcase one of many partnership efforts between countries in Central America and U.S. Southern Command, giving the countries in the region chances to learn and hone skills that have an impact on potential future operations.

Air Force Reserve’s first female firefighter began career with 910th

YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio — Then Staff Sgt. Fran Taylor with her husband Staff Sgt. John Taylor, a distinguished graduate from NCO Leadership School at what was then Grissom Air Force Base, Ind. while it was still an active duty installation. U.S. Air Force/Courtesy Photo.

Air Force Reserve’s first female firefighter began career with 910th
By Eric M. White, 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published March 09, 2016

In 1975, 23-year-old Fran Taylor decided she wanted to serve her country and continue a family legacy of military service, having a father and uncle who served during World War II. Taylor visited an Air Force Reserve (AFR) recruiter here to discuss her options. After scoring very well on her Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests, there we few limitations on what career she could pursue. Working in radiology at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and studying mathematics at Youngstown State University might have compelled Taylor to enlist in a medical or financial field, but she told her recruiter she wanted to do something different.

As Taylor and her recruiter flipped through the book of Air Force jobs, her recruiter said, “Do you want to be a firefighter? We don’t have any female firefighters.”

“Oh, that sounds good,” Fran said.

“Really?” the recruiter replied, laughing.

Taylor’s recruiter took her down to the base fire station. They pulled out some fire hose, attached it to a fire hydrant and let Fran get a first-hand feel for what she’d be doing. The fire chief insisted that firefighting wasn’t a career she wanted to pursue.

Fran didn’t listen.

Taylor began her career at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, for Basic Military Training before heading to Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, which housed the Air Force firefighting technical school. Once there, she learned that not only were there no female firefighters in the AFR, but there never were, making her the first. She heard that the first active duty Air Force female firefighter had gone through the technical school only two months earlier.

Because women were so new to the military firefighting field, neither the infrastructure nor the culture of the school had caught up.

“There was a thousand-man dorm for the guys,” said Taylor, “but they kept me with a welder’s squadron where they had one flight of women.”

Her instructors and many of her fellow students told her she couldn’t make it, though some were supportive. She recalls going into several fires per day as some of her instructors tried to overwhelm and discourage her, whereas most of the men complained they didn’t get enough live fire training opportunities. The extra pressure motivated her, as she wanted to prove that she was just as capable as her peers and could make it through the course.

“The more (my instructor) told me I couldn’t do it, the more determined I was to do it,” said Taylor.

There were other complications. Her clothing and uniforms were designed for her male counterparts. They never fit right and needed altered. Taylor wore size five shoes but was issued size ten boots.

“I’d go up to get on the truck and the boot would stay there on the ground,” said Taylor, laughing, “But you just suck it up and move on.”

Taylor said she was in good shape going into the school, having practiced Tae Kwan Do and being an avid cycler. The physical side wasn’t too bad, but the emotional side was challenging, and she often had to bite her tongue, said Taylor.

While at Chanute, Fran met her future husband, John, who was in training to be an Active Duty Air Force firefighter. In his trademark career humor, John tells everyone that Fran swept him off his feet, alluding to the firefighter’s carry for rescuing victims. John recalls that by the time Fran graduated, about 90 percent of her male peers had become supportive, but there were still those who opposed her.

"They were out to put her out," John said. "Our instructors even told us that. She was very slight of build, very feminine, but she fooled all of us, had a tenacity you wouldn't believe.”

After technical school, Fran came to Youngstown Air Reserve Station for duty with the 910th Tactical Fighter Group, now the 910th Airlift Wing, while John went to Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

A year later, they were married, and Fran transferred to the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell as a Reservist. Early in their relationship, Fran and John often heard the saying, “tech school romances don’t last.” They’ll celebrate their 40th anniversary in August this year.

Fran Taylor wasn’t just a trendsetter for the Air Force. While serving with the 908th as a Reservist, Fran applied for a job with the Fire Department in Montgomery, Alabama. Her test scores were high enough that she became the first paid full-time female firefighter in the state, garnering widespread media attention.

Fran didn’t work with or encounter another female firefighter for her first four years as a Reservist. She eventually went Active Duty to follow her husband to an assignment at Zweibrucken Air Base, Germany. She spent 14 years on Active Duty before switching back to the Reserve once her husband retired from the Air Force in 1994. The couple settled in the Youngstown area with their two children, and Fran continued service as a Reserve firefighter until her retirement as a master sergeant. in 2007.

Today, John and Fran both work for the 910th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department, sharing an office with desks about ten feet apart. Fran is the assistant chief of fire prevention and John is the fire inspector. Having witnessed the devastation fire can cause, Fran relishes the opportunity to help YARS personnel stay safe by regularly inspecting fire extinguishers, checking work areas for possible hazards and training personnel on fire safety and prevention. Since returning to YARS, she’s had several opportunities to work with other female firefighters as the industry normalizes what was once unheard of.

“I think it’s a great decision to go into the military,” said Fran. “It gives you so much self-confidence and self-discipline. There’s just so much opportunity out there, and really I think it would be a great career for anyone, even if you just stay in for a four year assignment.”

Although her search for something different led her to a military career that began with adversity and challenged her to overcome several obstacles, Fran says there’s nothing she’d change about her experiences.

“It’s a great thing going into any branch of the military and getting that experience,” said Fran. “It prepares you for life, because life can be tough out there. I think you’ll see that with a lot of female veterans you encounter.”

By all accounts that something different worked out pretty well for Fran Taylor.

Louisiana Guardsmen expand flood fight to southern part of state

Gov. John Bel Edwards surveys flooded areas and thanks Louisiana National Guardsmen who have been assisting local agencies around the clock in Ponchatoula, La., March 12, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie)

Louisiana Army and Air National Guard
Story by Staff Sgt. Denis Ricou

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard, as directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, continues to assist local agencies in response to significant flooding from north to south in the state, working around the clock since March 9.

The LANG has approximately 1,340 Guardsmen responding to flood operations in at least 25 parishes, to include evacuations, search and rescue by vehicle, boat and helicopter, distribution and supply of water, security and shelter support, and distribution of sandbags.

Over the course of these operations, the LANG has utilized more than 160 high-water vehicles, 44 boats, and 3 helicopters.

The LANG has rescued more than 2,136 citizens, and 186 pets. The LANG has distributed more than 12,000 bottles of water, issued more than 582,000 sand bags with 8 sandbag-filling machines.

Louisiana’s Guardsmen are trained, ready and equipped to stand up at any moment to protect lives and property, maintain communications, and ensure the continuity of operations and government.

OSAN AIR BASE, IGI tests first responders with aircraft contingency scenario

An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 25th Fighter Squadron takes off while an a C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing from Yokota Air Base, Japan, taxis during Exercise Beverly Midnight 16-01, March 9, 2016, at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Beverly Midnight is a readiness exercise designed to evaluate the ability of personnel to survive and operate in simulated wartime conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen/ Released)

51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Story by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Sutton

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea - Throughout exercise Beverly Midnight 16-01, multiple squadrons work together to accomplish the high-intensity training in a simulated combat environment.

The logistical undertaking and review of these multi-unit evaluations is the responsibility of the inspections team members who report to the 51st Fighter Wing inspector general.

“We try to exercise as close to the real thing as possible, [we have] opposing forces and simulated players with realistic injury special effects that create a dynamic and accurate scenario,” said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Mears, 51 FW IG inspections and reports manager.

These scenarios assist wing inspection team members with identifying emergency management issues and provide evidence-based information. The information is then relayed to wing leadership for assessment and training purposes.

Inspectors evaluate the first responders on their emergency procedures to ensure they are safely able to put out any simulated fires and assist injured personnel, explained Mears.

“The ability to execute this scenario on an open airfield has drastically increased the realism of this event,” he continued.

This scenario involved a C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing from Yokota Air Base, Japan, taking on small-arms fire from opposing forces upon landing. Emergency responders from the fire department, security forces and the medical group swarmed the scene to provide assistance to the simulated causalities.

“Cargo aircraft during contingencies provide the two essentials, supplies and troops,” said Tech. Sgt. Benjamin McConnell, 51 FW IG emergency management technician. “Testing our ability to recover personnel and assets is a must.”

“We really wanted to see how safe and effectively our first responders could handle a mass casualty situation like this,” he continued. “Their performance was extremely impressive.”

Beverly Midnight 16-01 provides inspectors with new and innovative ways to continue training while simultaneously instilling confidence in participants who are performing emergency management procedures.

“We have an extremely active airfield and airspace,” said Mears. “The fire department did an amazing job sorting the injured personnel for the medical teams who arrived and had all the victims evacuated very quickly. Every piece of the puzzle was demonstrated safely and the aircraft was quickly removed.”

Mears continued by explaining the importance of communication and having a sense of urgency in making the mission happen effectively.

“Communication before, during and after these scenarios is vital,” he said. “Proper coordination, having a positive attitude, and using a sense of urgency during these exercises is not only required for realism but also makes the desired learning objectives easier to accomplish. This is how we learn and improve and I am proud that this complicated scenario was effectively accomplished by Team Osan.”

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NV, US 99th CES Fire Protection Flight takes home prestigious awards

99th CES Fire Protection Flight takes home prestigious awards

99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Story by Airman 1st Class Nathanael Byrnes

NELLIS AIR FORCE, Nev. - The 99th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection Flight was awarded four Air Force-Level Awards on Feb. 24 at Nellis AFB, for their accomplishments during 2015.

The awards included the Air Force Large Fire Department of the Year, Fire Prevention Program of the Year, Firefighter Heroism Award and Air Force Senior Fire Officer of the Year.

The men and women of the 99th CES Fire Protection Flight are charged with keeping the Nellis and Creech AFB communities safe, protecting aircraft operations, building and wildland fire response, hazardous materials emergencies and medical response and were recognized for the work they did during 2015.

“The number one mission is to protect the aircraft mission,” said John Thompson, 99th CES fire chief. “That includes Nellis AFB with all the aircraft and Creech AFB with all the remotely piloted aircraft. Also, we are responsible for structural firefighting, hazmat response, medical response and all other hazards.” 

The Air Force Fire Department of the Year Award takes into account all aspects of the fire department; management, operations, training, fire prevention and safety. The scoring looks at emergency response, firefighter awards, customer outreach, public educations, training, innovation and initiative. 

The Nellis-Creech fire department is the third busiest fire department in the Air Force by call volume as they safely mitigated 1,600 emergencies in the 2015 calendar year. 

“On Nellis AFB there are approximately 150 planes assigned, and then you have 100 to 150 plus planes coming in for each Red Flag and other major exercises that take place at Nellis AFB,” said Thompson. “My estimate would be an extra 2,000 planes that come in that we are responsible for protecting during the 20 or so Large Force Exercises hosted by Nellis each year. We respond to anything from a standard in-flight emergency for hydraulic failure or engine malfunction to actual aircraft fires and crashes, we do it all.”

The Creech mission protection played a huge role in winning the 2015 Air Force large Fire Department of the Year award. “We provided protection of the 526 pilots at Creech and we provide fire protection for them and the airfield,” said Thompson. “Understanding the Creech mission, a lot of those pilots are flying combat missions half way around the world with remotely piloted aircraft. They flew over 209,000 hours and 12,300 combat sorties in 2015. We kept them safe while they prosecuted 22,900 enemy targets. By us being there to provide medical protection and fire protection for the building the pilot sits in is how we feel we help enable those missions to go on.”

The factors that are looked at for the Air Force Fire Prevention of the Year Award are inspections, engineering and code enforcement as well as innovation of community and public education programs. Four fire inspectors and one assistant fire chief make up the fire inspection team and they are responsible for running the largest fire prevention program in Air Combat Command. 

“Our fire prevention section trained 12,000 people at Nellis and Creech on how to use fire extinguishers,” said Thompson. “In 2015 we had 33 total fires at Nellis and Creech AFB. People we trained put out seven building fires and nine aircraft fires with fire extinguishers before firefighters even got there. That’s a testament to our fire prevention and training program. The fact that the people we trained are able to just run over and pick up a fire extinguisher and do what we taught them to do shows how successful the training program is.

“Those nine aircraft had a total value of $491.6 million. By those maintainers using the fire prevention skills they learned through the fire prevention program, they limited the damage to only about $600,000 and saved $490.90 million in the process.”

“The fire prevention section is also responsible for the creation of the military family housing fire safety training program,” said Thompson. It’s a program that requires newcomers to the base who are going to live in military family housing to take the fire prevention training and pass a test before they are issued the keys to their house. We like to think that the program has played a significant role in the fact that there hasn’t been a house fire on Nellis AFB since 2011, which is pretty impressive.”

Winning the award meant a lot to the fire department and the members of the fire prevention section.

“It’s nice to see your work come to fruition and be recognized for the hard work the team puts in,” said Rob Tello, 99th CES fire inspector.

Senior Master Sgt. Chancey Kruger, 99th CES deputy fire chief, won the Air Force Senior Fire Officer of the Year Award.

Kruger won the award for his job performance, accomplishments, technical competence, initiative and resourcefulness while on the job.

“I was beside myself when I found out that I won,” said Kruger. “I didn’t think I had won. I’m very humbled to have received this award because I feel that there are better people than I am who haven’t received this award. I had some great mentorship from retired and active duty military members and a great team effort that helped me win this award.”

The members of the 99th Fire Protection Flight had no idea that they had won these awards until Maj. Gen. Timothy S. Green, Air Force Director of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, broke the news during his visit on Feb. 24. 

“After he made those announcements the crew was pretty boisterous and there was a lot of high-fiving going around,” said Thompson. “It was a cool day to be a Nellis-Creech firefighter.” 

The success of the 99th CES Fire Protection Flight can be attributed to having a well-trained, disciplined, and motivated team that shows pride and excellence in their craft. 

“It all has to come together, said Thompson. “You have to have well trained firefighters and effective state-of-the-art equipment. The training is a huge part of the award and a huge part in everything that we do. To say that you are the best of the best and there is no fire department in the Air Force better than you at a particular moment, that’s a pretty cool feeling.

“Winning four out of eight awards is pretty cool. I’ve been around for a long time and I don’t know if that has ever happened before.”

The four Air Force Level Awards that the 99th CES Fire Protection Flight won go along with the already impressive five ACC awards they earned earlier this year. They will be competing in March for Department of Defense level awards.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting ensures airfield personnel safety

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Marines take an injured Marine from an MV-22B Osprey during a simulated hard landing at Marine Corps Air Station New River March 7. Crash fire rescue conducts the simulated drill multiple times a week to guarantee their readiness and response to emergencies. (U.S. Marine Corps image by Cpl. Mark Watola/Released)

Marine Corps Air Station New River
Story by Cpl. Mark Watola

NEW RIVER, N.C. - Bright yellow trucks rush to the scene of an aircraft that took a hard landing on the flight line during a simulated drill on Marine Corps Air Station New River March 7.

Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting responded to the downed aircraft to save the lives of fellow Marines on board.

ARFF Marines are specialized firefighters and rescue personnel who ensure the safety of aircraft personnel on the flight line, and assist in any emergency involving military aircraft.

"This job is important because without [ARFF] crew, we couldn’t man an airfield," said Cpl. Caden Vanbuskirk, a rescueman with ARFF. "Nobody could fly aircraft. If a bird were to go down and we weren’t there, people would die. Lives are at stake."

During the simulated hard landing, the Marines rushed to the downed aircraft. While maintaining a safe distance, with hoses at the ready, other rescue men cautiously made their way to the MV-22 Osprey. Once inside, they began to assess the situation and take the injured Marines to safety and triage.

"Any time anything crashes or there’s a mishap on the airfield we respond as fast as possible and clean it up as fast as possible so that the airfield can stay open and the mission can continue to be accomplished," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Atkinson, crash fire rescue section leader.

New River is home to many units which specialize in rotor-wing aircraft, like the MV-22 Osprey, AH-IW Super Cobra,CH-53E. ARFF training focuses on rotor-based aircraft emergencies, though they are trained to handle other situations too.

"We train this scenario specifically because it’s happened to us a lot," said Atkinson. "It’s typical for emergencies on helicopters. Typically when you have a hard landing, everyone gets concussions and most people are unconscious."

Crash fire rescue conducts the simulated drill multiple times a week to guarantees their readiness and response to emergencies. Their systematic approach to training allows them to readily handle routine tasks and focus on more difficult decisions or hazards that can occur.

"We do a lot of the same drills over and over again critiquing them more and more severely so that the Marines can get used to very structured behavioral patterns when it comes to emergencies," said Atkinson. "Most people get tunnel vision when they’re faced with crisis so we try and push through that and learn to have intensity without the tension that blocks mental processes."

At the end of the day, for some ARFF Marines, the job is more than just a job. ARFF Marines who put their lives at stake have a driving force in their character that allows them to carry out their duties.

"We’re always going to be there for you," said Vanbuskirk. "Never have a doubt in the back of your mind that we won’t be there."

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY, US NY Army National Guard Soldier saves life while on the job as a police officer

Command Sgt. Major Arnold Reyes in the field at Fort Drum, N.Y., with the New York Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. An Iraq War veteran, Reyes served in Baghdad in 2004 and 2005, Reyes is also an officer in the Suffolk County Police Department. In December 2015, he helped bring a woman back to life.

New York National Guard
Story by Master Sgt. Raymond Drumsta

EAST PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — Protecting and treating people is all part of Arnold Reyes' life of public service, whether he's serving as a Suffolk County Police Officer, or as command sergeant major in the New York Army National Guard.

So Dec. 19 — when he and others literally brought Kathleen Manganello, a 72-year old retired librarian, back to life here — was just another day for Reyes.

"I guess it's just ingrained...helping people," he reflected.

But for the family of Kathleen Manganello, Reyes is much more.

He's an "amazing superhero" her son, Andrew, told WLNY news during a January press conference in which Reyes was reunited with Manganello and her family.

An Iraq veteran who served in Baghdad in 2004 and 2005, Reyes' life of public service also includes 16 years in the Suffolk County Police Department and about 28 years in the Army infantry. Now the command sergeant major of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, the Selden, New York resident has served most of his Army career in the New York Army National Guard.

As a Soldier, police officer and volunteer firefighter, Reyes has racked up an array of medical qualifications, including combat lifesaver and emergency medical technician. For the last three years, he's been a member of the police department's Medical Crisis Action Team, which responds to emergency incidents like active shooters and barricaded subjects.

But, Reyes stressed, his infantry training and civilian training work hand-in-hand — whether he's serving as a Soldier, police officer or firefighter.

"My tactical sense is infantry," he said. "I run things with a tactical mindset. I analyze before I react."

That mindset was probably at work at around 3:20 a.m. on Dec. 19. Around that time, firefighters of the North Patchogue Fire Department Ambulance responded to the report of a woman who had no pulse and was unresponsive, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

In addition to performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the woman, the firefighters administered multiple shocks with an Automatic External Defibrillator, police officials said. Reyes, meanwhile, had heard the call on the radio and was on his way to the scene, which was in the bedroom of her house.

"I volunteered to go," Reyes recalled. "I wound up running the call. When I walked in, the fire department was already working on her."

Manganello's family was also in the room, watching the firefighters work, Reyes said. In addition to having no pulse, the woman wasn't breathing, and the firefighters had already "defibbed" her three times without success, he said.

The firefighters briefed him on the situation, and Reyes offered to help.

But they were facing a medical conundrum: a massive injection of epinephrine -- commonly known as adrenaline -- could restart the woman's heart, but she didn't have a pulse to pump the lifesaving medication to her heart, Reyes explained.

Her veins were also likely collapsed, so administering adrenaline intravenously (IV) was useless, he added.

"I knew right then it was going to be a difficult IV stick," Reyes said. "I wasn't going to waste my time with an IV."

Reyes also knew that they'd have to go to the bone — literally. So he reached for a last-ditch medical intervention known as an intraosseous needle.

Actually a drill, the device allows emergency medical responders to penetrate bone and administer medication via the bone marrow, so it can circulate through the body, Reyes explained.

"You actually drill it right into the bone," he said.

Picking a spot on Manganello's leg below her kneecap, Reyes proceeded to drill into her tibia bone and administer the adrenaline.

Though adrenaline was now on its way to the woman's heart, Reyes' own adrenaline hadn't risen at all throughout the incident.

"I'm usually pretty calm," he explained.

Reyes' even demeanor and medical intervention paid off. Within three minutes Manganello's breathing and pulse had resumed, and he and the firefighters took her to the intensive-care unit at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center, Reyes said.

Manganello has been discharged from the hospital and is continuing to recover, Reyes said. He's checked up on her from time to time, and she and her family are very grateful to him, he added.

"I'm very close with the family now," Reyes said.

Reyes said that saving the woman's life was a team effort. He also enjoys the teamwork and camaraderie of the Army, and "being part of something greater than myself."

"I think that everything I do is greater than myself...the Army, the police department, the fire department, all rolled into one," he said.

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MT, US Malmstrom firefighter competes in challenge

Firefighters from all over the world line up to compete in the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb challenge hosted at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle Feb. 28, During the challenge, firefighters had to climb 788 vertical feet to the top of the Columbia Center making up 69 floors of stairs in more than 70 pounds of full firefighting gear to complete the competition. (Courtesy photo)

341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
Story by Airman Collin Schmidt

MALMSTROM AIR FORE BASE, Mont. - One of Malmstrom’s very own had the opportunity to compete in the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb challenge, hosted at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle Feb. 28. The annual event is hosted as a way to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s mission - to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Scott Johns, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron fire and emergency services member, took on the challenge of competing against 1,935 firefighters from over 330 departments from around the world, climbing 69 floors of stairs in full firefighting gear.

To put the challenge into perspective, the Columbia Center where the challenge was held takes 1,356 steps to climb the 788 feet of vertical elevation to the top. This was all done with 70 pounds of firefighting gear strapped to Johns’ body while he performed the climb in a virtual sauna due to the hundreds of previous attempts from other firefighters in the narrow stairwell.

“I placed 627th out of 1,935 firefighters with a time of 20 minutes and 13 seconds,” said Johns. “I was the second to the last battalion to climb that day. The competition kicked off at 8 a.m. with the Seattle Pipes and Drums Team and the fastest firefighter from the previous year accompanying the honorary children, whom are fighting blood cancer, up the escalator to start the event.

“It was pretty touching,” he continued. “By the time it was my turn to go it was 3:30 p.m. There had already been 1,900 firefighters make the brutal climb through the stairwell. When I scanned my bar code (signaling his official start) and entered the stairwell I could immediately feel the wave of heat created by the thousand plus firefighters who climbed before me.”

Johns started off with a great pace, he said. As he recalls, the stairwell looked like a warzone. There were gloves, helmets and all kinds of fire equipment strewn everywhere from firefighters who were exhausted and just wanted the equipment off of them.

For anyone who shed equipment, their completion time was automatically disqualified from the record books. Regardless, hundreds of firefighters took off articles of clothing and heavy pieces of gear in order to complete the climb and not hinder others.

“I passed about 15 or so firefighters that were in front of me and came to a traffic jam on the 27th floor,” said Johns. “There was one person on his hands and knees who was so exhausted he was unable to move. Every few floors I was able to pass a firefighter.”

On the 40th floor was a bottle changing station for firemen to swap out their air bottles before making the final push to the top.

Johns saw this as his opportunity to push through on one bottle and make up some time.

“By the 50th floor I was exhausted,” said Johns. “I slowed to a much slower pace and every floor got tougher. Once I reached the 69th floor I was totally exhausted and so happy to be done.

“The crew at the top helped me out of my gear and to a chair where they gave me water and it felt amazing,” he continued. “There was a firefighter next to me that said he does marathons and he had never experienced anything like this in his life. I agreed with him, it was brutal.”

Johns raised $1,200 for his part in the competition to help battle cancer. In total, the event raised $2.2 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Next year, Johns plans to attend the event again and beat his current time.

“This is for a great cause and is a very fun competition to do,” said Johns. “I will be there next year ready to take it on again.”

MISAWA, AOMORI, JP Local hero embodies 'kizuna'

Takuya Kanto, a civilian firefighter with the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron, poses for a photo at Misawa Air Base, Japan, March 3, 2016. Kanto has been a MAB firefighter for over 20 years and frequently dedicates his time to visiting local villages that were affected by the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Together with American military members, Kanto continues to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Japan by being an active member of the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick S. Ciccarone)

35 Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Story by Senior Airman Patrick Ciccarone

MISAWA, Japan - An aged, black-and-white family photo caked with ash and dust drifts atop a stagnant field of water. As it floats along, it is joined by vaguely-shaped debris, soaked to the core - perhaps framework from a house or shed, maybe from a nearby building.

For countless miles in every direction, the view is unobstructed. Streets where cars and people had busily buzzed about have become desolate and solemn, enveloped by a silence so deep it disorients.

Where housing districts once stood, now lies only ruin - rent apart by inconceivable force, leaving nothing but the echoes of the families who lived there.

This scene was the reality for hundreds of thousands of Japanese citizens after the 9.1 magnitude Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami struck the Tohoku region in March 2011.

"I remember watching the news coverage fervently," said Takuya Kanto, a 35th Civil Engineer Squadron civilian firefighter. "Every day reported the destruction of a different city, or a new death toll - 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 people, in less than a week."

With tens of thousands presumed dead or without homes, Kanto, the Misawa Air Base community and the world responded to aid their Japanese partners.

"When emergency operations were completed on base and the recovery efforts began, we assembled teams of volunteers and coordinated efforts to assist the local community," said former Misawa firefighter Master Sgt. Andres Steevens, now the 92nd CES fire prevention chief at Fairchild AFB, Washington.

During the initial weeks following the earthquake, Kanto dedicated countless hours away from home and his family -- often commuting as far as three hours away to assist villages, and return home the same day.

He did this for five months straight.

"It was during this time that I bonded with both American military members and citizens of nearby villages," said Kanto. "Through this tragedy, I formed a strong relationship with a local village."

Rikuzentakata Village would soon become a location Kanto knew well, during the six-month timeframe he commuted there from Misawa as an emergency responder.

Although only five years ago, the memories of friendship and partnership forged in tragedy are ones Kanto has not forgotten and uses daily.

"My experiences during the time after the earthquake changed me as a person," Kanto said as his normally stern gaze softened. "Working together with volunteers and the American military showed me what kind of person I wanted to be - selfless and invested in the community."

Kanto said these experiences fuel his determination and inspiration to excel in everything he does.

Growing up in Misawa City, Kanto attended local schools and participated in activities like martial arts, specifically karate, which has imbued him with a greater level of focus and dedication.

It also introduced Kanto to the presence of Americans, something he would later pursue.

"Shortly after high school ended, I migrated to Tokyo to attend college," recalled Kanto. "I studied international economics and during that time, I also instructed karate classes."

Although his studies were serious, Kanto felt himself drawn to return home at the age of 26 after graduating college.

"My goal was to work on Misawa AB," Kanto said cheerfully. "I really wanted to become a member of Misawa AB after seeing the teamwork demonstrated between the military members and local community."

So, Kanto hit the books - hard. For a period of two years, he would self-study English every day in addition to having his neighbors, American military members, help teach and assist him in his pursuit.

Finally, in 1996 at the age of 28, Kanto became a civilian firefighter at Misawa AB.

"Kanto is one of my hardest working team members and leads by example in all aspects of being a firefighter," said Senior Master Sgt. Dorian Dillon, the 35th CES fire chief. "No matter how difficult or dirty a job is he always has a positive attitude."

During his 20 years of service, Kanto has met, befriended and learned from countless Airmen and others, which helped shape new firefighters as well as himself.

"His positive attitude is contagious to the Airmen around him," Dillon said.
Kanto recites a Japanese phrase "ichi-go, ich-ie," meaning "one time, one meeting" symbolizing the importance of his relationship with his firefighter family.

"All of the friends I've made have left a lasting impression on me," Kanto said wistfully. "One constant link tying us together is our friendship and sense of community."

Kizuna, meaning "bond" in Japanese, is something Kanto takes pride in - acting as a symbolic link between the Airmen of Misawa and the local community.

Kanto often organizes clean-ups or visits to disaster-struck parts of the Iwate-prefecture, like Rikuzentakata Village, one of the most affected areas post-earthquake and tsunami.

"Kanto is an active volunteer coordinator and periodically brings our Airmen to a local orphanage to help with beautification projects, youth mentoring and great cultural interchanges," Steevens said. "His volunteer skills are something all of us should strive toward and I'm proud to be considered one of his friends."

These trips, taken multiple times each year, further the ties the Misawa Air Base community has cultivated with their Japanese partners.

"Each visit to Rikuzentakata brings so much happiness to the people who live there, many of who lived through horrors," said Kanto. "I'm humbled to simply act as the link between these people and our Airmen."

As the five-year anniversary of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami approaches, Kanto solemnly remembers the tragedy, but looks ahead, filled with hope for more opportunities for America and Japan to strengthen their relationship.

"I just want to say 'thank you'," Kanto said. "For everything I have learned working with the American community, the friends I have made and the opportunities I have been given."

GUANTANAMO BAY Leadership through experience

Date Taken:08.11.2015 Date Posted:03.01.2016 10:15 

Capt. Thor Johannessen, with the 42nd Infantry Division, out of Troy, New York, conducts a moment of silence for 9/11 victims at the Naval Station Chapel, Sept. 11, at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Service members were given an opportunity to remember, reflect and dedicate for those fallen in the Sept. 11 attacks. The Morale, Welfare & Recreation also held a 9.11K at Cooper Field to show their support.

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs
Story by Sgt. Ryan Twist

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Something happened. Something that shook every American to the core. That something was 9/11. In the face of tragedy some Americans responded by joining the armed forces.

I was no exception. Only I had a little more experience with what unfolded on that day, more than your average service member.

I am currently a captain assigned to the 13th Division. I am attached to New York City Emergency Management as the Director of Field Response, coordinating interagency emergency response across the five boroughs and have nearly 25 years of experience. However, on that catastrophic day, 14 years ago, I was with the Official Fire Department City of New York, Rescue 1 in Manhattan, New York.

I was scheduled to work that day, but assigned to a mandatory two-day scuba diving refresher course in the Bronx, under the Throggs Neck Bridge, preparing to get in the water.

We had a clear view of the World Trade Center, from where we were down by the water. One of the guys looked up and saw an unbelievable amount of fire coming from the North Tower of the World Trade Center. I rushed back to listen to the fire department radio to hear what they were saying. At that moment, they transmitted a second fifth alarm, an alarm which requires 20 engine companies, 11 ladder companies, nine special units, and 12 chief officers, for the south tower of the WTC. I was shocked to hear multiple fifth alarms, which at the time, was the highest type of alarm. I remember thinking how close together the towers were, but I did not believe they were close enough to catch on fire from each other. It didn’t make any sense to me.

I walked back to the pier to tell the guys about the alarms, that’s when I saw plenty of fire from the first building. Then the others saw the ball of fire when the second plane hit the other tower, though they never actually saw the plane hit.

Next thing I knew, we were being ordered back to the fire house. While there was a recall procedure in place, we almost never used it. Our scuba training abruptly ended.

There was one other fireman at the refresher course from Rescue Co. 1 and we both jumped in his car and drove to the fire house to grab our fire gear. On the drive, listening to the commercial radio, we finally heard the reason for the fire, two planes flew into the twin towers. At the fire house, we grabbed our gear and one other firefighter who was also recalled from home and headed to the scene.

As we pulled up, the north tower collapsed. We had to walk a long way to get to the command post because there were so many fire trucks in the road. Once we arrived, we reported to the Chief of Rescue Operations, at the Command Post, who estimated that 200 fire fighters were missing.

I was told to be aware because the south tower could fall, which at the time had never occurred to me. What seemed to me like only a few minutes after the warning, it happened. The south tower fell.

My training kicked in. I did not have time to think about all that was happening. The first thing we did was get the gas distribution to the city shut off. Next, we called for water. There was no water running to the hydrants, so they had to call for fireboats to supply water from the piers. Afterward, we operated by ourselves, looking for people. We worked hard to find as many as we could. We searched the most easily accessible areas first and worked from there.

We looked for an entrance anywhere, hoping to find someone who was still alive. Luckily, we were fortunate enough to find some people alive.

In the midst of all the commotion, I remember thinking we were in such a vulnerable position. There had to be something radiological in the air. Why else would all this be happening? Whatever was burning, whatever we were breathing in, it could not be good. It was a war zone without the bullets.

Everything that happened was a series of unbelievable events. To see the widespread destruction, to not only the towers, but to all the surrounding buildings was just unbelievable. There were several big (high-rise) buildings on fire.

A 50-story building nearby was on fire, from top to bottom. I could see the building, it collapsed, and I never even looked up. I heard the tremendous noise as it went down, but I never saw it fall.

That was only day one and I cannot remember the whole day. I remember parts of the second day, but for months afterward, everything is a blur.

Fourteen years later, I’m still trying to resolve issues. Just because the day has passed, you cannot experience something as tragic as 9/11 and wrap it up in a box and put it away. It’s never over. It affects everything.

My company, Rescue Co. 1, lost 11 out of 27 officers and firefighters. We lost the company commander, the senior lieutenant, and the newest guy in the company who had only been there a few months. We also lost the most senior man of our company, who had 40 years of experience. His son was in another fire company and also lost his life that day. To describe all of this in words cannot be done; feeling devastated was an understatement.

Two firefighters I went on a family vacation with, only a few months prior, were gone. Many children lost their fathers, wives lost their husbands, and parents lost their kids. Fourteen members of the FDNY lost their kids, who were also serving as firefighters. A son of a firefighter earned his degree, got a very good job at the World Trade Center also died that heartbreaking day.

I’m still in touch with the families of the guys we lost. Watching their kids grow and doing my best to pass on whatever I’ve learned from their fathers.

I was very lucky, to have known the firefighters who lost their lives. I learned a lot from them, whether it was tactics in fire fighting, leadership or any other subject.

The FDNY felt the effects of 9/11 long after it was over. There was so much loss from the tragedy. Many members suffered disabling injuries that day, and many others suffered injuries during the rescue and recovery efforts. Many of the most senior members retired at the urging of their families after decades of service. At one point the FDNY had more than 50 percent of firemen with less than five years of experience. The fire department has come a long way in recovering from that day.

Before that tragic day, I had never been affiliated with the military. However, after the 9/11 events, I was never more motivated to join. I enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in October of 2002 and spent two years going through the [National] Guard’s Officer Candidate School, commissioning in 2004 as an infantry officer. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is my first deployment.

After being a part of Rescue Co. 1, it was rewarding to find out the military had the same highly motivated people I worked with at my fire company. I was surprised to find one fantastic organization would be so similar to another, in regards to the personnel.

They are all hard working people who have similar interests. Both firemen and service members strive to live their respective values, which is very comforting.
While I have not served in a combat zone as a service member, I’m confident that the Fire Department has provided me with some very similar experiences. I understand not everyone in the military has been through the same hardship as I have, and I feel very fortunate to have built the bonds I have with those in the military. No matter what role they perform, only a select few ever put on the uniform. Very few Americans take the opportunity to serve their country.

Being a little older than most, it’s exciting to see all the young people join. Some of those enlisting today were children when the tragic events of 9/11 happened and the events probably didn’t play a major role in their decision to join, but they still joined. We have such a great group of people in the military.

I am very confident the next time the U.S. is faced with something tragic, we have a deep pool of Americans who will stand and raise their right hands.

MacDill prepared for the worst-case scenario

Two firefighters assigned to the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron spray an aircraft at the scene of a simulated aircraft crash during a major accident response exercise (MARE) at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 8, 2016. Firefighters and other emergency response personnel conducted the MARE to prepare for any mishaps that may occur during the Tampa Bay AirFest scheduled to take place March 19 and 20. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)

by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

2/17/2016 - MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- The epigram "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" is precisely why MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, orchestrated two major accident response exercises (MARE), Feb. 8 and Feb. 9, 2016.  

The 6th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) simulated an aircraft crash and an active-shooter scenario to test how effectively MacDill's first responders would react to an incident if it were to occur during the 2016 Tampa Bay Airfest.

"In order to host an event such as Airfest, the wing needs to have assurance that our personnel know how to respond to those types of situations, especially with such a large scale of people being involved," said Lt. Col. Brad Mate, an inspector general with the 6th AMW.

When a crisis takes place, panic and chaos follow. Effective teamwork and communication are crucial during a catastrophic event.

Once each scenario was set into action, security forces Airmen moved spectators away in order to secure the scene, firefighters battled the aircraft fire and medical Airmen provided triage to the wounded. Simultaneously, command and control members set up the emergency operations center, crisis action team and unit control centers.

The second day gave security forces an opportunity to identify and apprehend an active-shooter, as well as seek out and prevent a suicide bomber. This exercise was geared toward security forces, explosive ordinance disposal and local law enforcement teaming together to control the situation; however, firefighters and medical personnel responded accordingly.

To make the scenarios as realistic as possible, an F-4 Phantom was brought in to simulate the crashed aircraft, and volunteers gathered on the flightline as spectators. Other individuals used moulage to create fake injuries, which included severe burns, bullet wounds, and head injuries.

"The multifaceted exercises required synchronization between off base agencies and the respective units," said Master Sgt. Shane Dhayer, a wing inspection team member assigned to the 6th AMW. "From the wing commander down to the first responders combating the chaos, each plays a vital role in making sure the safety and security of an incident will be expertly handled."

The MARE's evaluated emergency response plans, solidified tactics, techniques and procedures, and improved overall capabilities for emergency response.

"It is vital that we evaluate our process' we have established to ensure it isn't broken and if we run into any hitches, they are address and corrected," said Dhayer.

More specifically, the first responders were evaluated during the response, withdrawal and recovery phases of the exercise to determine their ability to assess and treat injuries, as well as contain and protect the scene of the incident.

"The past two days were highly successful," stated Mate. "It gave the wing confidence that our first responders can effectively do their jobs during a high stress scenario. As with any exercise it highlighted some areas we need to improve, which is the point of conducting the exercise."

100th CES firefighter shares dream, skills with next generation

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Conor Delaney, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, poses for a photograph while checking his truck Feb. 22, 2016, on RAF Mildenhall, England. Delaney’s dream as a boy was to be a firefighter and serve his nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gina Randall/Released)

100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Story by Gina Randall

RAF MILDENHALL, England - For one Airman currently assigned to RAF Mildenhall, his dream as a boy was to be a firefighter and serve his nation.

“I got out of high school when I was 17 and I had already signed my commitment to the Air Force,” said Senior Airman Conor Delaney, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter. “I knew I wanted to do something in public service and I wanted to be a firefighter for a long time. They kind of pulled my name out of a hat and said, ‘Hey, you get to go be a firefighter.’ I was really excited. I think it’s one of the greatest jobs in the world.”

Now that Delaney is living his dream, he wanted to share his skills and interests with the next generation. The opportunity arose in 2015 when he was asked to teach the Boy Scouts of America’s Fire Safety Merit Badge program.

“We got an email in December from the boy scout leader, wanting to set something up for the fire safety merit badge,” explained Delaney. “I guess they’ve done something similar a few years back. I come from a big family, and I always have been around kids, so I wanted to be involved. I began emailing back and forth with the troop leader. It was going to be a six-week class.

“After talking with chief [Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Mohr, 100th CES fire chief], Simon Law [a British firefighter assigned to the 100th CES] and Airman Basic Ty Sawyer [also 100th CES firefighter] who were really helpful, we couldn’t wait to get started. We put together a class every other week for six weeks. The children came in and we tried to show and teach them something cool.”

Delaney and his team thought hard about the learning methods.

“The first day we took them out and showed them a live fire. They got to observe what we do, how we would actually be on the scene of an aircraft fire,” said Delaney. “We gave them a homework assignment to design a fire safety plan for their home, such as a meeting place for their family. This was to keep their mind observant, to say ‘this is where my exits of my house are’ and overall safety in the home. I got out of it that they were able to look at their home in a different light, such as there’s a reason to have two doors in the room, or windows. We went over those plans and covered things like fire extinguishers and how to use them, things that may be helpful day to day. We showed them a grease fire demonstration and how something basic like cooking on the stove can turn into something catastrophic if they are not careful.”

Delaney hoped that perhaps it would spark an interest in his chosen profession for those in the class, and in sharing his skills he was reminded why he joined the Air Force.

“It gave me the opportunity to bring something new in. It’s like anything you do, you may get complacent in it,” said Delaney. “People say to you all the time, ‘You’re a firefighter, that’s awesome.’ A part of you is like, ‘Yeah, it is,’ and another part of you thinks, ‘Well yeah, but it’s something I do every day.’ You lose track of how awesome it is. When people come in and you are able to teach them something it re-sparks it for you. Your innocence is back with you in the sense of a job, so it’s really exciting to share my job with kids full of life and energy.”

Delaney was selected for this program for displaying the Air Force core values and his leadership is proud of what he achieved.

“In early January, Airman Delaney volunteered to spearhead the Boy Scouts of America's Fire Safety Merit Badge program,” said Tech. Sgt. William Pritchett, 100th CES Fire Department operations station chief. “This included leading a team of firefighters to create a training plan which would teach the boy scouts. The program was successful and all personnel, boy scouts and firefighters alike had fun and learned a lot in the process.”

Delaney wanted to thank the others on the team who helped him achieve success.

“Simon Law actually came in on his off time, which was great,” added Delaney. “Sawyer also provided valuable support for manpower. If we had to show them how fast we get our gear on, Sawyer was able to demonstrate our skills.”

These skills must be kept current for the firefighters entrusted to keep base personnel safe. No day is the same and Delaney enjoys the variety of his duties.

“I like going from zero to 60. I like the idea that it can be real slow and quiet then all of a sudden you are going full speed,” Delaney explained. “It keeps you on your toes and keeps you from getting too relaxed. It’s one of the more fun jobs we have and there is always something to do.”

He hopes his class members never become complacent about fire safety as they grow into young men with lives, homes and careers of their own.

“I would like to think they got a lot of good information out of it even if they choose not to [become firefighters],” explained Delaney. “It’s one of those things where you hope that nobody would have to use the information that you give them but if worst comes to worst they can think, ‘Hey I’ve learned this,’ and instinct will kick in, an instinct that could potentially save their life or someone else’s.”

CAMP BUEHRING, KW 40th CAB executes pre-accident plan

Paramedics of the George Washington University Emergency Medical Services and firefighters from Vectrus Fire and Emergency Services treat simulated patients from the Army National Guard 40th Combat Aviation Brigade during a pre-accident plan exercise at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Feb. 24. A pre-accident plan prepares military and civilian agencies to work together in the event of an emergency situation. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Ian M. Kummer, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)

40th Combat Aviation Brigade
Story by Staff Sgt. Ian Kummer

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Soldiers from the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade teamed up with civilian firefighters and emergency medical services to test their pre-accident plan at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Feb. 24.

The exercise tested the partnered agencies’ ability to effectively respond to a simulated fire aboard a helicopter at the airfield. Every step of Camp Buehring’s pre-accident plan for this emergency was tested; from the moment key leaders were notified to emergency personnel’s cooperation skills on the scene.

“An incident like this is something that we don’t do every day, thankfully,” said EMS Division Chief Eric Christensen, an Indianapolis resident with the George Washington University Emergency Medical Services. “In this exercise we got to test the response times of all our partners, military and civilian.”

The event started with a crew from Company F, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, 40th CAB, simulating an emergency landing caused by a fire aboard their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Firefighters and EMS personnel took control of the scene and rescued the crew members from their helicopter.

“This gave us good hands-on experience,” Christensen said.

After the crew received treatment for their simulated wounds, a second Black Hawk from Company F evacuated two medical manikins to Camp Arifjan.

Depending on the circumstances, an emergency at Camp Buehring could potentially require action from multiple organizations, such as the fire station, troop medical clinic or military police. The key concept behind a pre-accident plan is the Incident Command System, first developed in 1968 for use against the California wildfires, but now used across the country and overseas. ICS establishes a clear command hierarchy and roles for every involved agency responding to an emergency.

“We constantly review and update [the pre-accident plan] to take to the next incident,” Christensen said.

The key figure in an ICS is the incident commander. An incident commander is appointed based on the nature of a particular emergency, and which organization is best suited to take control of the situation. For this exercise, Assistant Fire Chief James Wenger Jr. of Vectrus Fire and Emergency Services served as the incident commander.

Wenger, a Tullahoma, Tennessee, resident, is an Air Force veteran with nearly 30 years of experience as a firefighter.

“My main focus is life safety, scene mitigation and scene stabilization,” Wenger said.

An incident commander is not the only leader involved at an emergency scene. An accident involving casualties requires a triage officer.

“The triage officer did an outstanding job,” Wenger said. “She orchestrated on-scene medical treatment with poise and calm demeanor.”

A triage officer is responsible for prioritizing injured personnel based on the severity of their injuries, and ensuring they are accounted for at all times.

“You really have to brief your team for safe practices,” said EMS Capt. Angela White, the on-scene triage officer and Ennis, Montana, native. “You have to establish priority for the patients and know their destinations.”

Practicing the pre-accident plan helped familiarize the 40th CAB Soldiers as well as give them valuable practice training side-by-side with their civilian counterparts.

“I haven’t done an exercise like this in quite a while,” said Capt. Brett Barker, a Harrisville, West Virginia, resident, and platoon commander with Company F. “If this becomes real, then its someone’s son, brother or husband you’re trying to get home.”

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, US Right place, right time

A vehicle lays on its side after being struck by a sedan near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., Feb. 24, 2016. Senior Airman Jeremy Derrick, 349th Aerospace Medicine Squadron aerospace medicine technician, and Bonnie Morrow, 60th Force Support Squadron work life consultant, responded to the scene using skills learned through Air Force training. (Courtesy Photo/Bonnie Morrow)

349th Air Mobility Wing
Story by Capt. Angela Martin

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — When Senior Airman Jeremy Derrick set off for work at Travis Air Force Base, California, Feb. 24, he expected an ordinary day performing his duties as an aerospace medicine technician in the 349th Aerospace Medicine Squadron.

He didn’t expect to use his skills as an emergency medical technician twice that day after he witnessed a motorcycle accident in the morning and a car crash that evening.

Derrick was at the right place at the right time when he saw a rider crash a motorcycle near the base safety course. Running to the scene, he sprang into action performing EMT duties on the rider until emergency responders arrived.

“This is what we do, this is what we train for,” Derrick said.

After Derrick provided his assessment to the emergency responders on scene, he went about his day, not expecting another incident to occur. But during his commute home to West Sacramento, California, he watched as a sedan hit a sport utility vehicle, causing the latter to fly into the air and flip onto its side.

“I immediately knew that I needed to help,” he said.

Derrick pulled over and responded to the scene, along with a half dozen other people. The group discovered two children in car seats and their mom stuck in the driver’s seat.

“We told her to unlock her car so that we could try opening the doors, but the doors wouldn’t open. After looking for a safe window to break, we picked a back window and climbed into the car to get the children out,” Derrick said.

One of the kids was handed over to Bonnie Morrow, 60th Force Support Squadron work life consultant, and U.S. Air Force veteran who worked in security forces for 14 years.

“All of the training I received in the Air Force came back,” Morrow said. “It was instinctual. I got on the phone with 911 and let them know where we were and who I was. I stayed on the phone while the others were getting the family out of their car.”

With the children safely out of the vehicle, Derrick conducted an assessment on them while waiting for emergency responders to arrive. With the exception of a large bump on one of the children’s head, they appeared to be without any major injuries, and were in good spirits.

“Out of all the people that could have responded, two people that stopped at the accident happened to be in the jobs that would respond to an accident,” Derrick said.

Derrick and Morrow remained on scene until California Highway Patrol arrived, and took care of the children while their mother spoke with the officers.

“If this unfortunate event happened to me with my daughter in the car, I would hope to have skilled Air Force members to assist,” Morrow said. “There was team work and sense of willingness to help quickly.”

California National Guard holds the line at Super Bowl 50

Pfc. Gioser Nunez of the 670th MP Company discusses Super Bowl 50 security with Mark S. Ghilarducci, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, from Nunez' post overlooking Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Feb. 6.

California National Guard
Story by Brandon Honig

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The California National Guard trains tirelessly for every type of emergency. Its soldiers’ and airmen’s skills are finely honed and wide-ranging, but the best-case scenario is that they never have to use them.

Heading for duty at Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California, troops hoped their mere presence would be enough to keep troublemakers at bay, and to bring a sense of peace to fans who came to enjoy America’s biggest cultural holiday.

“As a section supervisor, I can’t tell you how many times people walked up to us and said it was amazing – said how secure they felt knowing that [military] security was in place,” said Sgt. Kevin Fraser of the Santa Clara Police Department, which was the lead agency for Super Bowl security. “So many people walked up to shake the soldiers’ hands and asked to take pictures with us. The public was very, very appreciative.”

From an operational standpoint, he said, the troops were fantastic in their many roles throughout the week leading up to the big game and throughout the year of planning beforehand. With hundreds of thousands of visitors flooding the region for Super Bowl 50, Fraser said the Santa Clara PD knew they couldn't do it alone, and the National Guard was a vital part of the event’s success.

“Fully staffed, [the Santa Clara PD] is authorized 150 officers. If we had every single cop working, it would not have been nearly enough,” he said. “This model was so successful at integrating the National Guard troops with local law enforcement … [that] this partnership was immensely helpful for us.”

A trusted presence
Capt. James Stanfield, commander of the 670th Military Police Company, said no serious security concerns surfaced during the operation, and the events that did occur quickly spiraled down because of the security presence. MPs were posted all around the stadium, which Stanfield said showed the level of trust placed in the Cal Guard by the Santa Clara Police Department.

“The soldiers understood it when they saw it on the map, that we were everywhere, and most positions were not paired up with police officers,” he said. “It showed the level of respect and authority, that we were performing that mission in the absence of a police officer.”

The fans asking to take selfies with soldiers at Levi’s Stadium were interacting with members of the 49th MP Brigade and its subordinate units. But that was just one facet of the Guard’s support, which covered the entire Bay Area, including the Super Bowl City and NFL Experience fan venues in San Francisco, as well as the airspace overhead, protected by the Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing.

A full team effort, the Guard’s presence included both Army and Air Guard hazardous materials-response specialists, rescue teams, communications units and aviation assets, including three types of helicopters and two types of planes. Law enforcement specialists from the California State Military Reserve also provided training and support, and several Army units, including a quick reaction force and a ready reaction force, were on call at their home armories in case they were needed.

Preparation pays off
The coordination between Guard assets – and between the Guard and other agencies – was top-notch according to task force leaders, and according to troops on the ground. Spc. Janhannah Cho of the 670th MP Company, who guarded a bridge near the stadium dubbed Checkpoint 11 on game day, witnessed firsthand the benefits of thorough planning and preparation.

“We were told by our command that our fixed point is our point – that we do not move, because a vehicle or fence-jumper could easily be a distraction that would let other people through the perimeter,” she said.

When two men climbed over a fence the MPs were guarding early in the day, Cho stayed at her point and called the Santa Clara Police with a description of the men and the direction they were heading.

“The next think you know, [an Army] helicopter started flying overhead in the direction of the golf course where they were running. Then we saw Santa Clara PD rovers run over there in their [gator] vehicles, and then a Santa Clara police car right after,” she said. “They were on site quickly. I didn’t think it would work that fast, even though we’d been training for it all week.”

A third man tried to jump the same fence but was turned back by Cho’s partner. Then things calmed down for the rest of the day, Cho said. “They saw people were getting arrested and decided to leave us alone.”

The helicopter that flew over Cho’s head was an LUH-72 Lakota from 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, which provided live streaming video to commanders on the ground throughout Super Bowl Sunday. Lt. Col. Dillon Haynes, 49th MP Brigade operations officer, said that in addition to delivering valuable information about what was happening on the ground, the aviation support provided his troops with a rare chance to exercise their skills.

“Our intelligence and operations sections had an opportunity for the first time to look at live video in a Defense Support to Civil Authorities operation … which gave our personnel a chance to provide real-world, real-time analysis in a domestic support role,” he said.

Working well with others
Working together with other military units is a core skill of the National Guard, and many soldiers and airmen also work every year with partner agencies like the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), both of which played important roles at Super Bowl 50.

Super Bowl 50, though, likely involved more local, state and federal agencies than any event the supporting units had previously worked. On the federal side, for instance, soldiers worked hand in hand with Customs and Border Protection, guarding and escorting shipments to different sites after they had been screened by CBP.

“[The interagency coordination] went very well because we spent time developing those relationships ahead of time,” Haynes said. “The planning sessions paid off during the execution. … If something needed to happen, we’d already figured it out beforehand.”

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Emmerling was in charge of making sure the different agencies could speak to each other through the Incident Commander’s Command, Control and Communication Unit, or IC4U. A California Military Department invention, the IC4U was first fielded for a military operation during Hurricane Katrina.

“The IC4U is all about interoperability: being able to cross-talk from our ‘green’ networks to their ‘blue’ networks,” said Emmerling, the noncommissioned officer in charge of communications for the 49th MP Brigade. “It’s a very robust platform that has pretty much every citizen band and law enforcement band you can access. Then cross that together with some of our technology that’s in there, and if the stuff ever hits the fan, [the IC4U] will come in very handy.”

When it comes to interoperability, Emmerling is an example of the unique capabilities the Guard brings to domestic operations. A former police officer for two Bay Area departments, Sunnyvale and Mountain View, Emmerling also has worked in sheriff’s dispatch and Emergency Medical Services in San Luis Obispo County.

“We’re here to help the first responders in case there is an incident, so it definitely helps to have that background and familiarity with the systems and also with the people we are working with,” he said. “That’s why we’re so close [to the stadium] but just outside the perimeter – because we’re poised to assist them if we get called.

“‘Always Ready, Always There,’ right?”

A career highlight
Most of the soldiers and some of the airmen who supported Super Bowl 50 set up camp at a BMX track behind Levi’s Stadium, where many of them stayed in tents for more than a week. They weren’t exactly first class accommodations, and some soldiers were understandably disappointed they wouldn’t be able to watch the game. As the big day crept closer, though, excitement began to build throughout the Bay Area, and the BMX track.

“As the week progressed, and especially the last day, when gear was full battle rattle, we were all pretty pumped up for the Super Bowl and that everything we had been training for was finally happening,” Cho said. “We didn’t come here to have fun. Our mission was to protect and provide security and to help the local PD. You can’t let your guard down because people are having fun [without you].”

Stanfield agreed his soldiers were pumped. They were excited at the opportunity to employ their craft, he said, and the Super setting only added to it – especially after the game, when they were treated to a walk on the field.

“Some soldiers expressed that they wished they could have watched the game,” Stanfield said, “but they all appreciated it at the end, when we went on the field and saw the gravity of the event and how much of a difference they had made.”

Senior Airman Steven Williams of the 147th Combat Communications Squadron said he has supported a wide variety of domestic missions in his seven years in the Guard, but none quite like this.

“It’s definitely a unique experience. It’s exciting to see all the helicopters going around and all the commotion,” he said. “The whole function of why I joined the National Guard is so I can serve my state in addition to federal missions. It gives you a good warm fuzzy feeling to be able to do that in your community.”

Cho, who deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, said she’s glad she got to use her MP skills to protect people in her home state. Dealing with people who aren’t “bad guys” requires a different mindset, Cho said, and for the MP who joined the Guard at 17 because she wanted to be part of something bigger than herself, this was a mission to remember.

“It’s a great honor to serve Super Bowl 50, for sure,” she said. “This goes down in history.”