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| Members of the 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron pose for a photo with some of their Air Force Reserve counterparts, July 1, 2016, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. The reservists worked with McConnell AFB firefighters after deployments left the department undermanned. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Erin McClellan) |
Story by Airman Erin McClellan
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
At first, assistance was requested from the Air National Guard, but when they were unable to provide support, the reservists were called in to backfill the spots the deployed Airmen left empty.
“Our manning affects our ability to perform our job,” said Senior Master Sgt. Brent Hardsaw, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief. “To get six [reservists] was extremely helpful. As far as filling those manpower requirements, they helped us tremendously.”
Without enough people on shift at the fire department, there may not be an adequate amount of firefighters to respond to an aircraft emergency, meaning the mission could be majorly impacted or even halted.
“It could ultimately shut down the airfield,” said Master Sgt. Gerald Wile, 944th CES assistant chief of health and safety. “If there’s not enough people, then aircraft can’t fly because there’s no fire protection. That’s what we’re here for: ‘What if something goes wrong?’ It’s a very important part of the entire Air Force mission.”
In addition to helping on the job, the reservists helped prevent McConnell’s Airmen from overworking themselves by having to compensate for being shorthanded.
“A lot of times when you lose a large number of people, the ones at home have to pick up that slack,” said Hardsaw. “With those guys here we don’t have to stop things like leave and days off, so we can continue to keep up the morale here.”
Nearing the end of the six-month stretch, the fire department showed their appreciation for the reservists’ hard work by holding a going away lunch and presenting them with plaques. In return, the department was presented with a gift from the reservists; a wooden call box customized to represent that the reserve is always ready to help active duty Airmen.
“It’s humbling to be recognized by the active duty for what we’ve done and it makes me feel good,” said Wile. “We didn’t just show up to make money or to go on vacation. We did things for the unit above and beyond what was expected of us.”
By blending together people with different backgrounds and experiences, it allowed everyone involved to grow as individuals and as firefighters.
“Coming out here gave me an opportunity to see different aircraft and learn new techniques,” said Staff Sgt. Cheyne Baumgart, 349th Civil Engineer Squadron driver engineer. “Everybody does things a little bit differently and I got to work with people who have been doing it forever. When I go home, I get to bring that back to my troops and my civilian department.”
Spending time working together enabled all the Airmen to build relationships with each other that may make it hard to say goodbye now that the reservists are heading home.
“From the minute I got off the plane, everybody has gone out of their way to help us out,” said Baumgart. “There’s a real camaraderie here, and it was a pleasure to be part of this fire department. I made great friends that I’m going to miss. I had a great time; it’s going to be sad leaving here.”
