Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marines bring orphans Christmas

Photo By Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeffery Deal, aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist, passes a candy cane to May Yamane, a child with the local orphanage, during the ARFF Tsuta Orphanage Christmas party at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016. ARFF holds the celebration annually to help spread holiday cheer to the orphans and to bring service members, their families and Japanese together. Marines volunteered their time and provided the children with a homemade, American meal. After dinner, a special guest came to greet the children. Santa Claus sat in a red sleigh passing out presents and candy canes to the kids. Marines were given the name, age and gender of a child from the orphanage, so they knew what kind of gift to buy for them. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera) 

MCAS IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

12.10.2016

Story by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

U.S. Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, or ARFF, held a Christmas party for the ARFF Tsuta Orphanage at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016.

ARFF holds the celebration annually to help spread holiday cheer to the orphans and to bring service members, their families and Japanese together.

Activities such as a bouncy house, Christmas cookie decorating and games were available to the children during the event.

Marines volunteered their time and provided the children with a homemade, American meal.

ARFF shared Christmas dinner with the orphans and workers from the Tsuta Orphanage to help their relationship grow.

“Sitting down to eat is something everyone does,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Israel Booth, aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist. “We’re all able to join in communion and through fellowship we’re able to create bonds and bridges with each other.”

After dinner a special guest came to greet the children. Santa Claus sat in a red sleigh and passed out presents and candy canes to the children. 

“Marines were given the name, age and gender of a child from the orphanage,” said Lance Cpl. Allison Jenkins, administration clerk and aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist. “We were able to get gifts for them and make the event come together.”

Jenkins also said seeing the kids brighten up was the best part. They run up to people and give them high fives and despite the language barrier the children are still happy and laughing.

Marines from ARFF have celebrated the holidays with their sponsored, local orphanage since the 1990s to spread Christmas spirit.

“Events like this may seem small, but they’re important,” said Booth. “Any time Americans and Japanese come together as one big happy family, where we can sit down, eat and have a good time is significant to building that relationship we have with the Japanese.”

May Yamane, a child from the local orphanage, decorates Christmas cookies at the ARFF Tsuta Orphanage Christmas party at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016. ARFF holds the celebration annually to help spread holiday cheer to the orphans and to bring service members, their families and Japanese together. Activities such as a bouncy house, Christmas cookie decorating, and games were available to the children during the party. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

U.S. Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, and their families sit together with Japanese locals from ARFF Tsuta Orphanage for a Christmas dinner at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016. ARRF holds a Christmas party every year to help spread Christmas cheer to the orphans, and to bring service members, their families and the Japanese together. Marines volunteered their time and provided the children with a homemade, American meal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Viehl, assistant chief of operations with Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting serves food to a fellow Marine and his son during the Christmas dinner at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016. ARFF holds the celebration annually to help spread holiday cheer to the orphans and to bring service members, their families and Japanese together. Marines volunteered their time and provided the children with a homemade, American meal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Cocona, a child from ARFF Tsuta Orphanage, plays corn hole during the ARFF Tsuta Christmas party at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016. ARFF holds the event annually to help spread Christmas cheer to the orphans and to bring service members, their families and the Japanese together. Activities such as a bouncy house, Christmas cookie decorating and games were available to the children during the event. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Sean Dee, left, the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station captain, and Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Viehl, assistant chief of operations at ARFF, prepare to serve food for the ARFF Tsuta Orphanage Christmas party at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016. ARFF holds the party annually to help spread Christmas cheer to the orphans and to bring service members, their families and the Japanese together. Marines volunteered their time and provided the children with a homemade, American meal. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Fort Indiantown Gap Fire Department earns license

Photo By Sgt. Zane Craig | Brig. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Timothy Hilty, assistant adjutant general – Army, and Col. Robert Hepner, garrison commander, recognized Fire Chief Donald Wilson Nov. 3, for his role in the successful Department of Health inspection of three emergency response vehicles at Fort Indiantown Gap. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Zane Craig)

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, UNITED STATES

12.07.2016

Story by Sgt. Zane Craig 

Fort Indiantown Gap

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Brig. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Timothy Hilty, assistant adjutant general – Army, and Col. Robert Hepner, garrison commander, recognized Fire Chief Donald Wilson Nov. 3, for his role in the successful Department of Health inspection of three emergency response vehicles here. 

Pennsylvania Department of Health requires vehicles to be inspected and licensed. Prior to this year, no inspection was required for certification.

A typical inspection takes from two to four hours and includes operational and administrative components. 

According to Hepner, Wilson did an excellent job preparing his team and the vehicles for the inspection. 

Wilson said he is very proud that all the hard work he and his team put into the inspection has paid off, making Fort Indiantown Gap Fire and Emergency Services one of only two percent of Pennsylvania’s approximately 1,700 fire departments to have their vehicles pass the new inspection.

The firefighters at the installation are constantly training and maintaining their certifications to ensure the safety of those working and training here.

Wilson explained the fire department has to maintain multiple certifications including HAZMAT, firefighter levels one through four, airport firefighter, driver/operator/pumper, fire officer and instructor. 

Every Department of Defense-run fire station maintains these mandates. On each shift there is a qualified emergency medical technician which allows the department to respond to medical calls and provide initial care.

Fort Indiantown Gap has more than 700 structures on post, large areas of forest, ponds, lakes and streams, airfields, live-fire bombing ranges, small arms ranges and a variety of other training areas. To help protect these facilities and the personnel using them, the station has two engines, one brush truck, two aircraft rescue and firefighting trucks, and two boats. It has more than 20 full-time, paid firefighters, some of whom are Soldiers, some state employees and some federal employees. The firefighters are on-duty 24/7 in multiple shifts.

First responders have a difficult job, but the firefighters at Fort Indiantown Gap are trained and equipped for their unique mission here.

Airman strives to make local community a better place

Photo By Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves | 1st Lt. Anthony Perkins, 490th Missile Squadron intercontinental ballistic missile combat crew commander, poses for a photo in his firefighter gear Nov. 8, 2016, at Great Falls Gore Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Great Falls, Mont. Perkins recently received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, which is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who perform outstanding volunteer community service that has a direct impact on the wellness of the community. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves) 

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MT, UNITED STATES

11.30.2016

Story by Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves 

341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

Some Airmen only wear one suit -- they have one job and are comfortable doing it their entire careers.

1st Lt. Anthony Perkins, a 490th Missile Squadron intercontinental ballistic missile combat crew commander, however, wears three different suits.

By day, he wears his U.S. Air Force flight suit as an ICBM missileer. He helps maintain the nation’s nuclear deterrence mission by pulling a 24-hour alert shift in a capsule in the missile field. 

In his spare time, he dons another suit as a volunteer firefighter.

Perkins’ shift as a volunteer firefighter starts with a 40-minute drive down a long dirt road past the airport, peppered with few homes and buildings. The only indication of the location of the Great Falls Gore Hill Volunteer Fire Department is one lonely street light.

After checking in, Perkins and his fellow volunteers spend about an hour training and conducting change-over in a small meeting room with mismatched tables and chairs.

Part of his nightly routine begins by opening compartments of the fire truck, checking equipment to ensure it’s in place. His uniform is organized in his locker so it takes mere minutes to put on. 

When finished, Perkins finally heads home for the evening to remain on-call through the night.

His third suit is black cargo pants and a blue long-sleeved shirt identifying him as an emergency medical technician for Great Falls Emergency Services. 

On his days off from missileer duties, Perkins can be found pulling 12 to 24 hour shifts on an ambulance. Some shifts are busy with request calls coming in one after another. An alarm beeps in succession to alert responders to load up the ambulance and head to the scene, sirens blaring. 

Since March 2015, Perkins has spent thousands of hours providing critical emergency services throughout Cascade County.

When asked about what he does in his free time, Perkins said with a laugh, “that is my free time.”

Some people couldn’t imagine wearing three suits. For Perkins, however, it’s just another day in his life.

Originally from Lawton, Michigan, Perkins said becoming a first responder was never a question.

“I come from a family of first responders,” said Perkins. “Four generations of my family have been police officers, firefighters or first responders.”

Dedicating himself to being certified as a first responder for the fire department and as an EMT was no easy task.

He accomplished 50 hours of certification for both the fire department and as an EMT, has a Montana State EMT license and is certified with the National Registry of EMTs.

Senior Airman Andrew Ritton, 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron convoy response force member, remembers what the class was like.

“I went through EMT class at the same time as (Perkins),” said Ritton. “That class was probably the most difficult one I’ve ever had to take. It was long and intense, from about August to December, but it was worth it.”

Perkins and Ritton have been working together as EMTs since December 2015.

“He’s a great guy to work with,” said Ritton. “He knows his stuff and takes being an EMT and firefighter very seriously. He will get back from the missile field after pulling a 24-hour alert at 2 p.m. and be on shift on the ambulance by 5 p.m. for 24 hours.”

Perkins demonstrates the same level of commitment to being a first responder as he does being a missileer.

“Perkins is my mentor,” said 1st Lt. Justin Buda, 490th ICBM deputy combat crew commander, who has been working with Perkins for the last five months.

Buda pulls alert with Perkins more often than not and is the junior officer. 

“Not all senior officers equate to being mentors,” said Buda. “However, it is a testament to Perkins’ personality and operational proficiency that I consider him an exceptional mentor.”

Both Buda and Ritton said they enjoy having Perkins as a partner in their respective fields. 

“He and I get to work together outside of the Air Force,” said Ritton. “I’m enlisted and he’s an officer. It’s cool that I get the opportunity to know him personally and work with him that I probably wouldn’t get otherwise.”

In September, Perkins received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, which is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who perform outstanding volunteer community service that has a direct impact on the wellness of the community.

Perkins remains modest and humble about his good deeds and his service to the community. 

In the past three months, Perkins provided more than 300 hours of medical service for Cascade County during which he performed life-saving CPR on two separate occasions and responded to 36 emergency calls, seven of which were trauma patients. 

He also responded to a local wildfire during that time period.

“Sometimes we will talk about what he does as an EMT or firefighter, but not often,” said Buda. “He doesn’t like to be recognized, he’s very humble. I think it’s commendable; being a missileer who gives so much back to the community. He really likes what he does.” 

In most cases, first responders do not see themselves as heroes, they’re just doing their job. 

“I don’t do it for fame or glory, it’s not about that for me,” said Perkins “For me, doing what I do fulfills me outside of work and it enables me to give back as much as I can. I help people on their worst days. It’s what I do.”

2015 Air National Guard Civilian Firefighter of the Year

Lt. Col. John Poland (left), the civil engineering squadron commander at the 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg, W.Va., and Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Gengler (right), fire chief at the 167th, recognize Kirk Mongan (middle), assistant chief of operations at the 167th AW Fire Emergency Services, as 2015 Air National Guard Civilian Firefighter of the Year, Dec. 2, 2016. Mongan was chosen from all of the civilian Air National Guard Firefighters by the Air National Guard Fire Chiefs Association.

MARTINSBURG, WV, UNITED STATES

12.03.2016

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jodie Witmer 

167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard

Fort Indiantown Gap Fire Department

Photo By Sgt. Zane Craig | Brig. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Timothy Hilty, assistant adjutant general – Army, and Col. Robert Hepner, garrison commander, recognized Fire Chief Donald Wilson Nov. 3, for his role in the successful Department of Health inspection of three emergency response vehicles at Fort Indiantown Gap. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Zane Craig)

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, UNITED STATES
12.07.2016
Story by Sgt. Zane Craig
Fort Indiantown Gap

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Brig. Gen. Anthony Carrelli, Pennsylvania adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Timothy Hilty, assistant adjutant general – Army, and Col. Robert Hepner, garrison commander, recognized Fire Chief Donald Wilson Nov. 3, for his role in the successful Department of Health inspection of three emergency response vehicles here.

Pennsylvania Department of Health requires vehicles to be inspected and licensed. Prior to this year, no inspection was required for certification.

A typical inspection takes from two to four hours and includes operational and administrative components.

According to Hepner, Wilson did an excellent job preparing his team and the vehicles for the inspection.

Wilson said he is very proud that all the hard work he and his team put into the inspection has paid off, making Fort Indiantown Gap Fire and Emergency Services one of only two percent of Pennsylvania’s approximately 1,700 fire departments to have their vehicles pass the new inspection.

The firefighters at the installation are constantly training and maintaining their certifications to ensure the safety of those working and training here.

Wilson explained the fire department has to maintain multiple certifications including HAZMAT, firefighter levels one through four, airport firefighter, driver/operator/pumper, fire officer and instructor.

Every Department of Defense-run fire station maintains these mandates. On each shift there is a qualified emergency medical technician which allows the department to respond to medical calls and provide initial care.

Fort Indiantown Gap has more than 700 structures on post, large areas of forest, ponds, lakes and streams, airfields, live-fire bombing ranges, small arms ranges and a variety of other training areas. To help protect these facilities and the personnel using them, the station has two engines, one brush truck, two aircraft rescue and firefighting trucks, and two boats. It has more than 20 full-time, paid firefighters, some of whom are Soldiers, some state employees and some federal employees. The firefighters are on-duty 24/7 in multiple shifts.

First responders have a difficult job, but the firefighters at Fort Indiantown Gap are trained and equipped for their unique mission here.