Marines, Sailors practice firefighting search and rescue skills

Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force joined firefighters from the San Francisco area to learn about urban search and rescue techniques Oct. 5, 2016 at building 600 on Treasure Island. The service members learned how to cut through concrete and metal bars, reinforce structures, and move 3-5,000 pounds of concrete with wooden sticks.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES
10.05.2016
Story by Sgt. Cuong Le
Defense Media Activity - Marines

“So today the Marines and the sailors and members of the armed service will be working in conjunction with the San Francisco Fire Department to urban search and rescue skill,” said Jonathan Baxter, a lieutenant with the San Francisco Fire Department. “The urban search and rescue skill includes a number of different parameters but specifically how to remove large portions of rubble in order to get to potential victims.”

The first group of Marines started at the concrete and metal excavation site. The Marines learned how to use reciprocating saws, rebar cutters, rotary hammers, core saws, jackhammers, hydraulic circular saws, hydraulic chain saws, gas-powered circular saws, and hydraulic power units. The Marines learned how to effectively use these tools to cut precision holes through concrete slabs during an urban search and rescue mission to save people who may be stuck underneath fallen concrete.

“We learned about how to use different types of power tools to quickly and safely reach someone on the other side of a concrete slab,” said PFC Travis McKinney, a rifleman with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. “I am not the best guy when it comes to using tools, but with this training I am confident that I would be able to use these new skills to save someone’s life.”

The second group of Marines started at the Emergency Building Shoring station where they learned what type of wood to use, what length to cut the wood to, and how to put the wood together. The Marines would measure the openings that rescue teams would enter and build wooden structures to shore up the building’s strength before sending in teams.

“You never know what you might run into it could be a house on fire, it doesn’t have to even be Marine Corps related,” said PFC Nicholas Bennett an amphibious assault vehicle crewman with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, I Marine Division. “If you have a couple pieces of lumber, it is surprising what you can do. It could save somebody’s life one day.”

The third group started at the heavy lifting station, where the Marines and Sailors learned how to use metal rods and wooden blocks to move 3-5,000 pound of concrete. The service members would set up the wooden blocks to support the weight of the concrete slabs before using metal bars to move them.

“Learning to work together was the most important part of this training,” said Bennett. “With the skills that we learned today, I am pretty confident I could use them to help out during a disaster relief mission.”

Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force joined firefighters from the San Francisco area to learn about urban search and rescue techniques Oct. 5, 2016 at building 600 on Treasure Island. The service members learned how to cut through concrete and metal bars, reinforce structures, and move 3-5,000 pounds of concrete with wooden sticks.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Julien Rodarte 

Defense Media Activity - Marines

Pilot for a day visits Little Rock AFB

(From right) U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Marcus Scriven, 19th Mission Support Group Fire Department firefighter, helps James Rogers, 17, operate the fire hose during his tour of the fire department Oct. 3, 2016, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Rogers received the tour as part of the Pilot for a Day program, which provides children who have serious or chronic illnesses an opportunity to be part of a flying squadron for an entire day.

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, AR, UNITED STATES

10.03.2016

Story by Airman Grace Nichols 

19th Airlift Wing

The Pilot for a Day program, began 26 years ago, varies base to base, but each have the same goal: to give service member’s the chance to be directly involved with the local community and allow children with serious or chronic conditions to experience a day in the life of a U.S. Air Force pilot.

“We have many things related to our mission that are just downright cool,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Seth Lake, 314th Operations Group evaluator. “Giving a child from the community who has been faced with so many challenges the chance to interact with those things in a one-on-one environment was just too good an opportunity to pass up.”

James Rogers, a 17-year-old diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, experienced what it’s like to be a pilot for a day. He was paired up with Lake as his wingman, who helped show Rogers the ropes. 

“I hadn’t met James yet, so he was quiet at first,” Lake said. “The most exciting thing was seeing his enthusiasm increasing throughout the day.”

Leaving his day-to-day challenges at the gate, Rogers was dubbed a Combat Airlifter and tasked with the Combat Airlift mission. 

“Regardless of his medical challenges, James is an outstanding young man with a genuinely kind and giving heart,” said Ali Miller, Camp Aldersgate CEO, a non-profit camp which Rogers annually participates in.

Upon his arrival, Rogers was issued a flight suit, complete with patches on each shoulder and a personalized name tape. 

Upon donning an aircrew helmet before boarding a C-130J, the honorary pilot blended in on the flight line with the other aircrew. 

Rogers received a personal tour of an active C-130J Super Hercules, and then experienced what all student pilots endure to become a certified pilot and flew a C-130J in the simulator.

With delighted laughter despite crashing the simulated aircraft, the new pilot learned the basics of flight. “I need more practice,” Rogers said.

Rogers also had the opportunity to witness the full spectrum of Combat Airlift operations.

Knowing Rogers’ passion for firefighting, coordinators included a special stop at the base fire department. 

“He is a Junior Firefighter, and loves everything to do with firefighting,” Miller said.

After Rogers geared up, three firefighters helped him operate a firehose.

“It was a great opportunity for our guys to showcase our job and daily operations and help James live his dream,” said U.S Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Johnson, 19th Mission Support Group Fire Department deputy fire chief.

Rogers was the first member of the community for more than two years to participate in Team Little Rock’s Pilot for a Day program. 

“I hope that the program can continue for years to come and have a meaningful impact on the lives of children in Arkansas,” Lake said. “Overall it was a success, I think James and his family had a good time, and it was a great experience for everyone involved.”

(From left/right) U.S. Air Force Capt. Seth Lake, 314th Operations Group evaluator, shows James Rogers, 17, the C-130J during his tour of the squadron Oct. 3, 2016, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Rogers received the tour as part of the Pilot for a Day program, which provides children who have serious or chronic illnesses an opportunity to be part of a flying squadron for an entire day.

Swan Creek Camporee

SWANTON, OH, UNITED STATES
10.01.2016
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Nic Kuetemeyer
180th Fighter Wing Ohio National Guard

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kristopher Boysel, 180th Fighter Wing firefighter, gives Boy Scouts from Troop 103 in Maumee some hands-on experience with firefighting techniques and how firefighting relates to the 180FW flying mission on Oct. 1, 2016 in Swanton, Ohio. Boy Scouts from the Erie Shores Council held their 2016 Fall Camporee at the 180FW and were guided through ten areas on base to learn about the Ohio Air National Guard and aviation in pursuit of their Aviation Merit Badge. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Nic Kuetemeyer)

Firefighting on the USS Frank Cable

10.01.2016
Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Allen McNair
Navy Media Content Services

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 1, 2016) - USS Frank Cable (AS 40) Sailors practice firefighting during an all-hands fire drill, Oct. 1. Frank Cable is one of two forward-deployed submarine tenders and is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to conduct maintenance and support of deployed U.S. naval force submarines and surface vessels in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
(U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Allen Michael McNair)

Petty Officer 3rd Class Jesse Aguilar, a native of Corona, Calif., assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), enters the scene of a simulated, class alpha fire, during an all-hands drill, Sept. 30. Frank Cable is one of two forward-deployed submarine tenders and is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to conduct maintenance and support of deployed U.S. naval force submarines and surface vessels in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
(U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Alana Langdon)

Full Video Trojan T-28 Wheels Up Landing

Aircraft wheels failed to dislodge on test flight so pilot had to circle around for two hours before attempting dangerous manoeuvre

A skilled pilot was forced to make an emergency - and very bumpy - landing in a warplane after its landing gear failed.

The single-engine aircraft touched down at Ardmore Airport in South Auckland after a test flight.

Warbirds Association Chief Flying Instructor Dave Brown was flying the North American T28 Trojan at the time of the incident this morning.

JARRED WILLIAMSON/FAIRFAX NZ

It has been reported that the landing gear failed to dislodge, forcing the pilot to scrape the plane across the runway to bring it to a halt.

Two fire engines were called to the scene and the airport was closed.

In a statement to New Zealand's One News, Warren Denholm of Avspecs Limited - which is based at Ardmore and restores vintage aircraft - said: "The aircraft was undergoing proving flying following assembly after importation from the USA when the wheels failed to extend for landing.

"Every attempt was made by Dave to dislodge them so they would come down (they raise and lower with hydraulics) but sadly they remained firmly up, so in the end he had to land the plane on its belly.

The Fire Service said the aircraft was carrying two hours' worth of fuel and was forced to circle the airport several times before attempting to land.

According to the St John Ambulance service, the pilot was the only person on board the plane, and escaped the incident uninjured.