Saved the life of Master who collapsed shortly after his physical fitness test.

Col. Johnny Ryan, 130th Airlift Wing Commander, recognizes Chief Master Sgt. Steven Foster (left), Tech Sgt. Mark Haywood, and Master Sgt. Jeremy Callen all from the 130th Civil Engineering Squadron, for saving the life of Master Sgt. (not pictured) who collapsed shortly after his physical fitness test on Aug. 6, 2016.(United States Air National Guard photo/Tech. Sgt. De-Juan Haley)

WV, UNITED STATES
08.15.2016
Story by Capt. Rachel Hughey
130th Airlift Wing Air National Guard

Master Sgt. Bruce Chatterton of the Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) completed his physical fitness test around 8:30 a.m. and after passing, he immediately proceeded for a random urinalysis screening in the Civil Engineering building on the second floor. Tech Sgt. Mark Haywood, supervisor of the electrical shop, also had a fitness test and urinalysis screening in the same time and location.
Haywood said, “I came out and saw Tech Sgt. Victoria Grogan, who was in charge of urinalysis testing for CES that day, yelling for someone to help and to call 911. Based on the fact that he had just completed a fitness test and the color of his skin I knew he was under cardiac arrest so I immediately began Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation's (CPR) and chest compression's and yelled for someone to bring the AED.”
Master Sgt. Ryan Persinger called the base 911 which quickly dispatched the Fire Department to aid Chatterton until the city could arrive with an ambulance. 1st Sgt. Jeremy Callen, building manager of CES, knew exactly where the AED was located, so he grabbed it and ran it up the stairs as quickly as he could to where Haywood was already doing CPR and prepping Chatterton for the AED.
Chief Master Sgt. Steven Foster, CES Manager responded also and helped continue compressions. Once the AED was ready, it called for a shock, everyone stood clear, and waited for it to shock and assess his vitals. The base fire department arrived within minutes and continued to check his vitals and take over CPR.
At this point, most of the individuals on the scene saw very little hope for Chatterton’s survival. They continued to listen to the AED which advised no second shock so they administered a bag valve mask at one breath every three to five seconds. The fire department gave him first breaths of oxygen, which helped his condition tremendously. Within a few moments, he was taking his own breaths, and Tech Sgt. Jeff Elswick, Assistant Chief of Training for Civil Engineering Fire Department (CEF) checked his pulse, which was much stronger. His blood pressure was not great and he was confused, but he was breathing on his own and they continued giving him oxygen.
At this time, medics had arrived and took over his care. Foster said, “I’ve never seen someone’s color go from purple to gray and back to pink again in such a short amount of time.”
An interesting chain of events occurred that day to place all the people together that saved his life. For example, Staff Sgt. Jacob Norris, a firefighter/emergency medical technician (EMT) who arrived on the scene to help, had been teaching CPR 15 minutes before the call came in, and Airman 1st Class Nate Arthur, another firefighter/EMT, was in in the same class. Haywood and Chatterton took a fitness test and had a urinalysis in the same building at the same time.. The firefighters who responded said that they were not supposed to be on base that day but rather training at a different location, but it was moved to a different day.
These Airmen had the training and awareness of where the AED was located, they reacted quickly, used the tools effectively, and it saved his life. All of these members who assisted with life-saving techniques credit the training they had received for CPR and the AED to be the key factors in saving his life.
Elswick said, “Those guys made our job easy, they set the stage, they are the real heroes. Out of all the calls I have ever ran he was in the 5 percent that came back that should have never made it, so their early response was key in saving his life.”
Chatterton said, “I am very grateful for what those guys did; they did not waste any time.”
His son Eric also said, “His doctor told us it was the closest thing to death that she’d ever seen, and that those guys saved his life.”
The members of the 130th Airlift Wing continue to prove valuable to community and country. They train vigorously, so when things like this happen it is second nature; they practice until they get it right. On August 6 things could have gone very differently for Chatterton, but thankfully the Airmen around him reacted quickly and used their training to save his life. Most businesses now have an AED in their facilities, and the 130 AW has 20 AEDs throughout the base.
Col. Johnny M. Ryan, Wing Commander, recognized the initial responders informally in a formation several hours after the incident took place and said, “These guys are the best, and they come from one of the best squadrons on base. I am so proud of what they did, and how they did it to save a life.”
Do you know where your businesses’ AED is located? Have you had CPR training in the last two years? Chatterton is alive today because of two key pieces of training, and members of a guard unit who are second to none. For more information about life saving skills please visit www.redcross.org and click on Training & Certification.

349th Civil Engineering Squadron Patriot Warrior 2016

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. William Wonnell, firefighter, 349th Civil Engineering Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., poses for a portrait after completing nighttime live structural fire training during exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport, Fort McCoy, Wis., August 11, 2016. Patriot Warrior is a joint exercise designed to demonstrate contingency deployment training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Brasier)

YOUNG AIR ASSAULT STRIP, FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

08.11.2016

Photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Brasier 

3rd Combat Camera Squadron 

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Eric Nielsen, firefighter, 349th Civil Engineering Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., poses for a portrait in his protective gear during nighttime live structural fire training during exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport, Fort McCoy, Wis., August 11, 2016. Patriot Warrior is a joint exercise designed to demonstrate contingency deployment training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle Brasier)

Patriot Warrior 2016

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Eric Nielsen, a firefighter from the 349th Civil Engineering Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., prepares for live structural fire training as part of exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Ft. McCoy Airport, Wis., August 11, 2016. Patriot Warrior is a joint exercise designed to demonstrate contingency deployment training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Dyer)

SPARTA/FT. MCCOY AIRPORT, WI, UNITED STATES

08.11.2016

Photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Dyer 

3rd Combat Camera Squadron

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joe Bushman, Assistant Chief of Operations from the 94th Civil Engineering Squadron, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., observes live structural fire training as part of exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Ft. McCoy Airport, Wis., August 11, 2016. Patriot Warrior is a joint exercise designed to demonstrate contingency deployment training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces, (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Dyer)

U.S. Air Force firefighters prepare to enter a live structural fire during training as part of exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Ft. McCoy Airport, Wis., August 11, 2016. Patriot Warrior is a joint exercise designed to demonstrate contingency deployment training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Dyer)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Alvin Baustista, a firefighter from the 349th Civil Engineering Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., prepares for live structural fire training as part of exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Ft. McCoy Airport, Wis., August 11, 2016. Patriot Warrior is a joint exercise designed to demonstrate contingency deployment training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Dyer)

U.S. Air Force firefighters prepare for live structural fire training as part of exercise Patriot Warrior at Sparta/Ft. McCoy Airport, Wis., August 11, 2016. Patriot Warrior is a joint exercise designed to demonstrate contingency deployment training ranging from bare base buildup to full operational capabilities. More than 11,000 members from the U.S. service branches and their Reserve components, including Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines are participating alongside British, Canadian, and Saudi Arabian forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Dyer)

Locals Tour Ongoing Seabee Construction at Search Dog Training Center

Emily Fisk, a dog trainer, leads her search dog Skye atop a rubble pile obstacle during a tour of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s Training Center facility. The rubble pile was constructed by Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 25, and is one of many training facilities they built at the center to simulate realistic disaster scenarios for search dogs under the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Hooper/Released)

SANTA PAULA, CA, UNITED STATES
08.12.2016
Courtesy Story
Naval Construction Group ONE

SANTA PAULA, Calif. - Local civic and reserve military leaders toured the National Disaster Search and Rescue Dog Foundation’s (SDF) National Training Center (NTC) to see first-hand the ongoing naval construction efforts there, Aug. 12.

SDF was founded in 1996 to help strengthen disaster response capabilities by training rescued dogs and then partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to help find people buried in rubble following a disaster.

The tour highlighted the capabilities of the training facility, the search dogs and their handlers that the foundation serves, as well as the Seabees’ ongoing construction projects.

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMBC) 25 along with support from 1st Naval Construction Regiment (1 NCR) are working under the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program (IRT) and alongside a general contractor to construct various training facilities at the center. The facilities simulate realistic disaster scenarios for search dogs.

Serenity Nichols, an executive assistant at the foundation, said her first contact with the Seabees started when they volunteered at the training center, constructing a retaining wall in their off time. And it was through those interactions that she learned of the IRT program.

“The IRT program provides an opportunity for military reservists to receive readiness training while helping communities in need. In this case, they helped the Search Dog Foundation by providing resources and equipment to build training props for our canine disaster search teams. It’s a great partnership and a win-win for both the Seabees and the Search Dog Foundation,” said Nichols.

Senior Chief Builder Timothy Cooper, NMCB 25’s project officer-in-charge, spoke highly of his unit’s partnership with the SFD through the IRT program.

“The benefit for us is that it gives our Seabees a chance to exercise their construction skills. We’ve gained 22 new licenses in heavy equipment and 1200 hours of equipment operation for our Seabees,” said Cooper.

Cooper also said that the benefits of the partnership extend well beyond refining construction skills for his Seabees. He believes his troops are gaining valuable leadership skills as well.

“Our crew leaders are learning to be crew leaders and even I am learning something new every day about how to manage personnel,” said Cooper. “It’s a win-win. We’re getting a lot of excellent training and the Search Dog Foundation gets a product in the end.”

According to Cooper, the Seabees have made huge progress over the last six months on the project.

“23,000 cubic ft. of dirt has been moved and placed, 485 tons of gravel has been placed and compacted, 120 cubic yards of concrete was poured, we finished 9000 square ft. of surface area inside buildings, 500 ft. of retaining wall was installed, and 4.2 miles of fitness trails were cut in,” said Cooper.

Future work at the foundation is expected to include a collapsed building, a collapsed bridge, and an additional rubble pile to simulate real-world disasters and enhance training for the search dogs.

“You don’t construct a building that’s leaning 5 degrees in one direction and 2 degrees another direction every day. You don’t have structures that have planes crashed through the side of the building. But I’ve never worked with a better group of people,” said Cooper.

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 25, pose for a group photo with distinguished civilian visitors at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s Training Center. Seabees from NMCB 25, based out of Port Hueneme, Calif., are constructing various training facilities at the center to simulate realistic disaster scenarios for search dogs under the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Hooper/Released)

Tulsa Air National Guard Base provides assistance to Tulsa Fire Department

Firefighters used Engine 65 stationed at Tulsa Air National Guard Base to provide assistance to the Tulsa Fire Department (TFD). The tanker engine can hold 2000 gallons and was used to resupply water to the TFD engines. Photo courtesy of the 138th Figher Wing.

TULSA, OK, UNITED STATES
08.12.2016
Story by Tech. Sgt. Drew Egnoske
138th Fighter Wing

Story by 1st Lt. Jennifer Proctor, 138th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Officer

TULSA, Okla. – Members of the Oklahoma Military Department (OMD) assigned to the 138th Mission Support Group at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base were called to provide assistance to the Tulsa Fire Department (TFD), Wednesday.

A tanker truck was dispatched to resupply water to the TFD’s fire engines. Firefighters from OMD, Capt. Bill Schultz and Firefighter JP Rutherford, responded to the request from the TFD to a civilian house fire.

According to Master Sgt. Matthew Tumleson, deputy fire chief for the138th Fighter Wing, there was not a fire hydrant close to the rural location.

“Normally fire engines would resupply water from a hydrant,” Tumleson said. “Our tanker, once empty, then went to the closest hydrant to resupply for them. They performed this operation several times, but their assistance didn’t stop there.”

Tumleson also added, “Once the fire was under control, TFD teamed one of our Airmen, with their guys to assist in eliminating hotspots and to salvage any personal belongings they could for the family.”

The Tulsa Air National Guard Base have mutual aid agreements with organizations such as the TFD and the Tulsa Police Department. Recently, the Base received assistance from the Tulsa Police Department after a woman made a bomb threat at the front gate. Their quick response and valiant effort to protect Base personnel displayed the importance of continued interoperability between military and civilian organizations.

“Our community relationships are very important to us as Guardsmen,” said Col. Raymond H. Siegfried III, commander of 138th Fighter Wing. “This is where we live and through mutual aid agreements and emergency management organizations, we are ready and able to provide resources to our community partners.”

Members of the 138th have been requested to respond and assist local authorities a number of times, with the most recent being a search and recovery mission after a tornado struck Owasso, Oklahoma earlier this year.

Col. Bruce Hamilton, commander of the 138th Mission Support Group, had only been in command a few days prior to seeing his personnel respond to the fire.

“I am fortunate to walk into a well-maintained organization that immediately knows what to do when a call for help comes in,” Hamilton said. “Their readiness training has paid off and they don’t think twice about it. They may believe that they are “just doing their jobs,” but they are actually making a difference in their community.”