USS Gravely (DDG 107)

NORTH SEA
02.19.2019
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Hays
Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Active) 

NORTH SEA (Feb. 19, 2019) Chief Damage Controlman Nathan Williams conducts crash and salvage training during a damage control drill on the flight deck aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107). Gravely is underway on a regularly-scheduled deployment as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 to conduct maritime operations and provide a continuous maritime capability for NATO in the northern Atlantic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Andrew Hays/Released)

NORTH SEA (Feb. 19, 2019) Chief Damage Controlman Kevin Fischbach conducts crash and salvage training during a damage control drill on the flight deck aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107). Gravely is underway on a regularly-scheduled deployment as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 to conduct maritime operations and provide a continuous maritime capability for NATO in the northern Atlantic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark Andrew Hays/Released)

Video: Behind the scenes view of Firefighters while on duty.

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, UNITED STATES
02.15.2019
Video by Staff Sgt. Michael Cossaboom
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Get a behind the scenes view of firefighters while on duty.
Contributing broadcaster SrA Katherine Walters.

Djibouti officials, U.S., coalition forces meet to coordinate emergency response effort for future crisis

Photo By Staff Sgt. Franklin Ramos | U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. James Kriesel, deputy commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, provides closing remarks during an Emergency Response Information Exchange multinational discussion, Feb. 14, 2019, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The three-day discussion included representatives from the U.S., Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Djibouti, who identified various capabilities each nation can offer during the event of a natural disaster in Djibouti, including communication equipment, emergency vehicles and medical support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Franklin R. Ramos) 

CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI
02.15.2019
Story by Staff Sgt. Franklin Ramos
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa 
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CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Joint personnel assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) hosted an Emergency Response Information Exchange (ERIE) multinational discussion from Feb. 12-14, 2019.

The three-day discussion included representatives from the U.S., Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Djibouti, who identified various capabilities each nation can offer during the event of a natural disaster in Djibouti, including communication equipment, emergency vehicles and medical support.

“This discussion is important because we are getting all the players in the room so that if a disaster were to happen it would not be the first time that our staff has met; especially since one of the most challenging things we’ll encounter is the language barriers with all the nations involved,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Alex Jones, CJTF-HOA deputy director of training, readiness and exercises. “Making sure things are not lost in translation and that we have a plan to communicate with each other is integral to our success.”

Jones hopes that ERIE will eventually lead to similar events, providing coalition forces more opportunities to better prepare for disasters.

“We hope that this would be the first of maybe annual re-occurrences of similar events that might actually become exercises with more robust scenarios,” said Jones. “I think the important thing to take away is that there is a team here in Djibouti. We all have a vested interest in responding to a disaster and can work in a concerted manner to help ourselves, and help the Djiboutians if one were to occur.”

“It’s a great opportunity for us to upgrade our knowledge of managing a disaster with the whole team of army presence in Djibouti; Americans, French, Japanese, Spanish, etc.,” said Fatouma Awaleh Osman, mayor of Djibouti City. “It will be an exchange of knowledge, but also an exchange of contact to know who’s who and to be better prepared in the future for any kind of disaster.”

Working together throughout the course helped participants build better lines of communication and understanding of how to operate in a real-world emergency.

“It’s important for us to work together,” said Osman. “Djibouti City is not only for the Djiboutians. We have foreign forces present here as well. In the case of a disaster, it’s not only the responsibility of the Djiboutian government but also those who are living in this city and have a part of this state,” “It’s a great opportunity to meet everybody here [to learn about] their capabilities, where they can help and how they can find a solution for their coordination in terms of managing a disaster.”

Understanding how to work bi-laterally can help reduce response times, which can save lives.

“The effects of communicating and streamlining processes help get aid to a specific area faster, problems can be brought up quicker, solutions can be found and processed quicker,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Marcus Rosenthal, CJTF-HOA future operations actions officer. “Everything is just done quicker, you know the faster a disaster is dealt with and recovered from, the less loss of life, property and equipment.”

Strategic communication such as the ERIE discussion help CJTF-HOA, partner nations, coalition forces, and interagency and intergovernmental organizations achieve a unified effort in ensuring public safety.

“This discussion has been extremely important for relationship building, liaison officer familiarization, formulation of a crisis response committee and the associated analysis of what technical assistance is required,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. James R. Kriesel, deputy commanding general of CJTF-HOA. “This is the start of an enduring process with Djibouti for emergency response. CJTF-HOA and Camp Lemonnier will continue to assess crisis response ways ahead with our great partners and hosts of Djibouti. These relationships are critical for preparedness in the event of a potential natural disaster here.”

Kadena Airmen put out local fire

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jessica Smith | Senior Airman Justin Kannenberg and Tech. Sgt. Argo Cesareo, both, aircraft recovery for the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, were recognized by the Uruma Police Station in Uruma City, Japan, Jan. 28, 2019, for putting out a local fire. The Airmen saw the fire on their way to dinner and immediately took action until emergency services arrived. (Courtesy photo) 

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN
02.20.2019
Story by Staff Sgt. Jessica Smith
18th Wing Public Affairs 

Two aircraft recovery Airmen from the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron put out a local sugar mill fire Jan 11, 2019 in Uruma, Japan.

On their way to dinner, Tech. Sgt. Argo Cesareo and Senior Airman Justin Kannenberg noticed smoke coming from a building on the opposite side of the four-lane road. Alarmed, but unable to tell what exactly it was, they kept an eye on the building until it was closer in view.

“It looked concerning but I wasn’t sure what it was, so I kept an eye on it. As we were passing the building, I could see flames coming up the backside of the building, so I told Kannenberg – who was driving – ‘That’s a fire, we’ve got to turn around,’” Cesareo said.

At the next possible spot, the Airmen made a U-turn and pulled into an apartment complex parking lot next to the flaming building. Kannenberg laid on his horn to alert anybody that may have been inside the apartment buildings while Cesareo dialed 119 for help. Despite the language barrier, they were able to get help on the way.

“There was an elderly woman, she didn’t speak any English and I don’t speak any Japanese, so she didn’t understand what I was trying to say, but one of her neighbors came out and I handed her the phone and pointed to the fire and she got the idea,” Cesareo explained.

Once the neighbor was on the phone with emergency services, Kannenberg found a garden hose and threw it over the fence separating the sugar mill from the apartment complex.

“It was like 70 or 80 feet, fortunately, so I ran and turned the water on and ran to where the fire was and started spraying from fairly far away,” he said.
“When the flames started to die down, I got a little bit closer.”

After spotting another hose, Cesareo was able to help Kannenberg extinguish the flames.

With smoke billowing from under the doorway and all ways of entry locked, the Airmen contemplated what to do next.

“We thought about kicking down the door to see if there was anybody inside, but I was worried about the backdraft,” Cesareo said. “I knew if we opened another window or door, the whole thing would go up.”

As locals watched on, the Airmen used their fire-fighting training as aircraft mechanics – although a building fire and aircraft fire are very different – to do the best they could until help arrived.

“I was pretty focused; I wasn’t really concerned about anything other than just trying to get the fire to stop,” expressed Kannenberg, “That was the only thing that really mattered at the time.”

By the time the fire department showed up, Cesareo and Kannenberg had managed to extinguish all the flames, leaving only burning embers inside the building.

The Uruma emergency services were able to clear the scene and confirm the sugar mill was, in fact, empty.

Because of their Air Force training, the Airmen were able to quickly take action and make decisions without hesitating. Their courageous actions not only prevented the fire from possibly spreading, but also gained the respect of the local community.

The Uruma City Police held a recognition ceremony to show their gratitude and present the Airmen with Letters of Appreciation. Both Cesareo and Kannenberg were appreciative of the opportunity to be recognized for their actions and to build a bond with local community.

“I thought it was a really cool experience,” Cesareo said. “The police department and everyone we interacted with seemed very sincere and grateful and we felt grateful for their hospitality.”

Rescue training: Fort McCoy firefighters learn, practice diving under ice

Photo By Scott Sturkol | A firefighter wearing a full diving suit and related equipment treads water prior to diving under the ice Feb. 6, 2019, at Big Sandy Lake on South Post at Fort McCoy, Wis. About a dozen firefighters with the Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department practiced ice diving as part of the Fort McCoy dive team. Overall, the firefighters completed four days of training related to ice diving that also included classroom time and practice at the pool at Rumpel Fitness Center. Fort McCoy built the dive team capability eight years ago and the team has responded to real-world emergencies, including recently to an emergency in Sparta, Wis. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES
02.15.2019
Story by Scott Sturkol                   
Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

One after another, about a dozen firefighters with the Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department took their turn Feb. 6 getting in a suit, strapping on an air tank and full-face mask, and diving into the depths of Big Sandy Lake under the ice on Fort McCoy’s South Post.

The divers were covering depths of up to 15 feet or more completing several types of rescue scenarios under the guidance of fellow firefighters and from instructor Jeff Zilliox with the Marineland Dive Center of Onalaska, Wis.

Overall, the firefighters completed four days of training with Zilliox that also included classroom time and practice at the pool at Rumpel Fitness Center.

“We were preparing the divers for ice diving and ice rescue and recoveries,” said Zilliox, an experienced diver who has been training recreational and public safety divers for 30 years. “This training gets them used to being under the ice. It’s a little bit different environment with the ice overhead.”

Divers took turns going in and out of the same hole that was cut in the ice. Each diver was tethered with a connecting line that included a communications connection.

“Since they were going in and out of the same hole in the ice, we tethered them,” Zilliox said. “They go in with dry suits and full-face masks, so the comfort level is much higher for them when they are under the water. They are well-equipped, so this is a training effort to get them all well versed to use that equipment.”

Divers were under water for 15 to 20 minutes on average completing lost diver and search scenarios. Zilliox said the underwater scenarios help them learn what it’s like in case they have to be involved in a real-world emergency.

Such a call came in Jan. 6 to go to Perch Lake in Sparta, Wis., where children fell through the ice — one who went under the ice. During that emergency, Fort McCoy responded with seven firefighters who were on duty.

“Three additional firefighters responded from home to assist the dive team,” said Fort McCoy Fire Chief Tim Jorgensen. “Firefighters initially put on their Stern suits and searched with pike poles. While they were searching, they also deployed a remotely operated vehicle into the water and used it to assist in the search. We then put a diver into the water who was able to locate the victim.”

“We try to train the same way every time, so no matter what the conditions are, we are used to training with the equipment and can respond to an emergency quickly,” said Zilliox, acknowledging that it’s a “train like you fight” approach that works well.

He said in below-zero temperatures, for example, a diver who comes out of the water can have their equipment freeze instantly, so that’s why they always train to have divers go in and out of a hole in the ice that is covered by a heated tent. “We want to make sure that when the divers come out they stay warm, and we try to get them dried off as quickly as possible,” Zilliox said.

Firefighter Matt Wheeler — who’s also known as Army Reservist Staff Sgt. Wheeler with the 2nd Battalion, 411th Logistics Support Battalion — was one of the divers going through the training. He said the training is priceless, especially when there’s always the possibility you may have to use learned skills to save a life.

“This is a really good training,” Wheeler said. “I always like learning a new skill and then getting out and applying like we did here.”

“Not many people can do this and it’s a service and capability that is required for (our department),” said Firefighter Michael Forlines, also a dive team member. “We train in the cold and in these wintry conditions because we have to be able to gear up, go under the ice, and save a possible victim.”

Fort McCoy built the dive team capability just eight years ago. Zilliox said when he started teaching the training to Fort McCoy firefighters around that same time, he first taught the diving basics during the summer months at Lake Wazee in Jackson County, Wis.

“We got them used to diving first, and then moved them into public safety,” Zilliox said.

After seeing how well the divers did training at Big Sandy Lake, Zilliox said they all have come a long way since the team first began.

“The training went awesome,” Zilliox said. “We did practice in the pool, so they were kind of used to the equipment. For some, this was the first time being under the ice, and they took to it really well. Ice diving is about practice, practice, practice. Even though we do this every year, even when we’re not teaching a bunch of new guys, we will still come out and do this because it is that important.”

Forlines said the team does some form of diving-related training every month.

“Our training is repetitious and we do it often,” Forlines said. “We want what we do to be instinctive because we have to be ready at any time to respond to an emergency, whether that is under the ice or somewhere else.”

Jorgensen said the dive team capability is just one of many capabilities the firefighters in his department bring to bear, and he’s proud of every member of his team.

Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services each year since 1984.

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.