Multi-national Coalition fire training course strengthens team fight against ISIS

A 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter drags a hose during a timed firefighter confidence course at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Jan. 16, 2017. Participants completed nine stages during the course including a ladder climb, hose drag, sled pull, hose throw, equipment carry, forcible entry, hotel pack, equipment hoisting, and rescue. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tyler Woodward)

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)
01.17.2017
Story by Senior Airman Tyler Woodward
380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA—Deployed French and U.S. Air Force firefighters competed in a firefighting confidence course to ensure operations against Da’esh continue safely at an undisclosed location, Jan. 17, 2017.

Firefighters were required to perform ladder climbing, hose dragging, ax swinging, equipment hoisting and rescue carrying during the timed event while donned in personal protection equipment weighing roughly 50-75 pounds.
Chief Master Sgt. Mark, 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Chief, discussed the importance of developing Coalition relationships while in a deployed environment.
“The first time that we meet these guys shouldn’t be at the scene of a crash,” Mark said. “This training instills that sense of confidence that they are doing the same thing we’re doing and we’re doing the same thing they’re doing.”
The 380 ECES designed the course with the intent of strengthening the bonds and relationships between participants.
“It’s all about teamwork,” 380 ECES firefighter Staff Sgt. Jonathan said. “We’re coming together and cheering each other on as we’re doing the obstacles and also this stuff goes hand-in-hand with what we do daily.”
Coalition air power in support of Joint Coalition Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve has assisted Iraqi Security Forces in the liberation of more than 50% of the territory held by Da’esh since December 2016.
Due to the high volume of sorties flown in support of OIR, firefighters must maintain strong relationships with Coalition partners.
“It’s very important for my guys to develop this relationship and exchange different techniques,” French Air Force Fire Chief Stephan said. “If there were ever a big incident with a French aircraft, I’m sure we would need their [380 ECES firefighters] help; it’s important to know how each of us work.”

A 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter climbs a ladder during a timed firefighter confidence course at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Jan. 16, 2017. Fellow firefighters of the 380 ECES supported each member as they progressed through each obstacle. Participants completed nine stages during the course including a ladder climb, hose drag, sled pull, hose throw, equipment carry, forcible entry, hotel pack, equipment hoisting and rescue. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tyler Woodward)

A French Air Force firefighter celebrates with U.S. Air Force firefighters after completing a firefighting confidence course at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Jan. 17, 2017. 6 members of the FAF participated in the event. During the course, U.S. and French personnel supported each participant as they progressed through the obstacles. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tyler Woodward)

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Airmen on standby during winter storm

Photo By Master Sgt. Michael Crane | U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bryony Terrell, 139th Mission Support Group commander, briefs the emergency operations center staff at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 14, 2017. The Missouri National Guard was activated to state emergency duty to assist local authorities with emergency response to the winter storm. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Crane) 

SAINT JOSEPH, MO, UNITED STATES

01.14.2017

Story by Master Sgt. Michael Crane 

139th Airlift Wing

The 139th Airlift Wing is on standby to assist local authorities with emergency response to this weekend’s winter storm. 

The response comes as Gov. Eric Greitens declared a state of emergency and activated the Missouri National Guard on Thursday.

Col. Ralph Schwader, Joint Task Force-Blue commander, says the wing has 50 airmen on standby called a quick response force, or QRF. The team would go door-to-door performing health and wellness checks in St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri.

“This is a unique tasking,” said Schwader. “In the past we have covered Buchanan County, but this time we are covering SEMA [State Emergency Management Agency] Region H.”

The are two other joint task forces in the state; One is St. Louis and one at Whiteman Air Force Base. A QRF from the 139th spent the night at Whiteman AFB 

The wing also has a debris removal team equipped with chainsaws, skid loaders, shovels, and generators.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard’s response please visit moguard.com.

A fleet of trucks from the 139th Airlift Wing return to Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 14, 2017. More than 50 Airmen from the wing were stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Knoster, Mo., the previous night to assist local authorities with potential emergency response to the winter storm. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Michael Crane)

Firefighter training at Luke

By Senior Airman James Hensley, 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published January 04, 2017

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE -- Steven Kinkade, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief, provided firefighters from Luke and Gila Bend fire departments with a safety briefing prior to training Dec. 7, 2016, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Kinkade went over what to expect in the training, where each firefighter would be assigned and safety tips. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Hensley)

The 56th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters, use a rapid intervention vehicle to respond to an aircraft fire during training Dec. 7, 2016, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The firefighters were training on responding to an aircraft fire and using RIVs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Hensley) See More Photos

Minnesota Military, Civilian Response Agencies Train for Super Bowl 2018

Soldiers and Airmen with the Minnesota National Guard’s CBRN Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) and Twin Cities emergency service personnel with MN Task Force One endured single-digit temperatures at the WestRock paper mill in St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 7, 2017, for a joint training exercise.

ST. PAUL, MN, UNITED STATES
01.07.2017
Story by Sgt. Sebastian Nemec
34th Combat Aviation Brigade

The 203-person CERFP conducts command and control, search and extraction, decontamination and medical operations to assist civil authorities in providing disaster response. It is comprised of Soldiers from the 84th Troop Command, 682nd Engineer Battalion and 434th Chemical Company, and Airmen from the 133rd Airlift Wing Medical Group.
This was the second joint training exercise the CERFP and MN Task Force One have conducted together, said Maj. Ryan Cochran, the Deputy Commander of the Minnesota CERFP.
“You have to train as you fight [respond],” said Cochran.
The previous exercise in November and this one were intentionally done in cold weather environments to test the capabilities and limitations of the unit’s equipment in preparation for potential support during Super Bowl LII in 2018 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
In the first part of the exercise, engineer Soldiers with the Search and Extraction Element were trained by firefighters with Task Force One on urban search and rescue. Inside WestRock, Soldiers donned red helmets, eye and ear protection, along with elbow and knee pads as they worked around dripping water and muddied floors while learning how to extract patients under fallen infrastructure and confined spaces.
These skills are perishable, said 1st Lt. Nicole Wiswell, an engineer officer and platoon leader with the 851th VEC. The Soldiers have to work on them every month along with their usual drill weekend duties. It is physically demanding training and everyone who is there wants to be there.
Once the patients are extracted from the building, they are taken to a decontamination station run by Soldiers of the 434th Chemical Company. Soldiers in big yellow protection suits and air filtration masks wash the patients to clean off any chemical agents they may have come in contact with.
When the patients are coming from the “hot zone,” said Sergeant First Class. Paul Bramsen, the noncommissioned officer in charge of decontamination with the 434th Chemical Company, are cleared, they are considered to be in the “cold zone” and are transported to the medical area.
There, Airmen with the 133rd Airlift Wing Medical Group conduct triage and stabilization in the medical tent and prepare the patients for ambulance exchange where they are taken to a nearby hospital.
The work is strenuous, stressful and taxing, but also rewarding for the Soldiers and Airmen who are part of the unit.
“I love it,” Wiswell said. “I think it’s a great organization.”
The MN CERFP has a few more collective training events scheduled for 2017 to continue preparation for Superbowl 52.

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Nevada Guard flood response supports rural citizens

Sgt. 1st Class Justin Juliot, center, of the Nevada National Guard's 422nd Expeditionary Support Battalion, unhitches a 400-gallon water tank, commonly refereed to as a "water buffalo," to provide water for the town of Sutcliffe on Pyramid Lake Tribal land about 40 miles north of Reno, Jan. 12, 2017. The town of Sutcliffe has been without basic water services since water rushed down the western and eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range Sunday, causing floods around the region and damaging fresh water pipeline to Sutcliffe.

CARSON CITY, NV, UNITED STATES
01.13.2017
Story by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Marcus
Nevada Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs

An atmospheric river that blasted the Sierra Nevada mountain range this week flooded much of western Nevada and resulted in the activation of dozens of Nevada National Guard Soldiers.

Nevada Guardsmen transported potable water, prepared evacuations and even helped with snow removal, for much of the state’s most vulnerable citizens living in rural parts of the flood zone.

“The community is extremely supportive,” said Sgt. Nathan Spicer, 609th Engineer Company. “We got a lot of thumbs up, waves and many thank you’s in passing.”

In the early morning hours Monday, as the Truckee River crested through the Nevada cities of Reno and Sparks, 609th Soldiers reported to Lockwood, Nev., where flooding affected the town’s water system. Soldiers originally activated to aid evacuation. However, a nearby Walmart distribution center donated pallets of water for the community and Nevada Guardsmen helped with its transportation and distribution. No citizens were evacuated as portions of the Truckee River in Lockwood crested at its banks.

Additionally, Nevada Guardsmen transported a water tank, commonly referred to as a “water buffalo,” with 400 gallons for citizens of Sutcliffe, Nev., a town on Pyramid Lake tribal land about 40 miles north of Reno.

“The entire town was without water and the weather isn’t making it any easier for them,” Sgt. 1st Class Justin Juliot, 991st Multi-Functional Brigade, said Thursday. “They were really thankful to get the water.”

The flood closed roads and damaged pipelines connecting the town of about 600 people to a nearby water tank. Sutcliffe has been without basic water services since the flood on Sunday and hopes to have the system restored early next week, tribal officials said.

In the rural, mountain town of Virginia City — a national historic monument — Guardsmen aided citizens stuck in snow Friday, loading military dump trucks and moving snow to the outskirts of town.

Rain totals in the first two weeks of the year in the region equaled about 50 percent of total average expected annual rainfall, not including the more than 5 additional inches of snow measured in Reno — with much more in higher elevations — according to data gathered from the National Weather Service. After the deluge, precipitation continued as snow, dropping several feet in the mountains, enough to close at least one ski resort.

Accessed damage totals were still being tabulated Friday, but the Nevada Department of Emergency Management said it would easily exceed several millions of dollars.

Weather reports forecast mostly sunny skies and no precipitation this weekend — a much needed respite after a record start to the year.