CENTRAL AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS SHARING OPERATIONAL KNOWLEDGE WITH U.S. COUNTERPARTS

U.S. Air Force firefighters assigned to Joint Task Force Bravo's 612th Air Base Squadron are training alongside 25 firefighters from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica during a multinational firefighting exercise at Soto Cano Air Base, August 19-23. The Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences exercise (CENTAM SMOKE) takes place twice a year and provides an opportunity for all firefighters to work as a team while learning from each other’s capabilities through strenuous partnership-building challenges.

COMAYAGUA, HONDURAS
08.20.2019
Story by Maria Pinel
Joint Task Force Bravo 

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HONDURAS – The Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 612th Air Base Squadron will be hosting a multinational firefighting exercise at Soto Cano Air Base, August 19-23, with the participation of 25 firefighters from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica.

The Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences exercise (CENTAM SMOKE) takes place twice a year and provides an opportunity for all firefighters to work as a team while learning from each other’s capabilities through strenuous partnership-building challenges.

Col. Steven Barry, JTFB commander, welcomed the students on their first day and emphasized the hard work the Air Force firefighters put into the planning, and wished the multinational participants the best during the week to come.

The 612 Fire Department instructors look forward to this intense fire and rescue training every year to develop cooperation skills, as well as improve partner nation firefighting capabilities and their own to maintain regional response capabilities.

“We expect hard work, determination, a ‘never quit’ attitude and their willingness to be open minded to learn how we do our job; same with my guys at the fire department - their open mindedness to understand how our partners work as well,” said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Ott, Fire Chief with the 612. “Sometimes they don’t have the best tools and equipment so we want to learn how they do their job. It benefits us in a situation where we don’t have the ability to get tools and equipment and we are in a place where we have to think outside the box. So it’s really just a shared experience on both sides.”

Training includes safety, personal protective equipment, structural and helicopter live fire evolutions, vehicle extrication, aircraft familiarization and wildland fires. During the initial phases of the training, the firefighters also participate in a combat challenge to evaluate and test their physical condition.

Herberth Gaekl, Soto Cano Fire Inspector, has participated in CENTAM SMOKE since its initiation and spoke on his expectations as the safety instructor.

“I hope their mentality towards their safety and as firefighters has a multiplicative effect towards the rest of their staff when they return to their home stations. I’d like to see participants leave with a smile on their faces and that they have learned,” said Gaekl. .

This training exercise is physically demanding and extremely rewarding, challenging firefighters from across Central America since 2007. The event will conclude with a graduation ceremony Friday, August 23.


U.S. Air Force firefighters assigned to Joint Task Force Bravo's 612th Air Base Squadron are training alongside 25 firefighters from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica during a multinational firefighting exercise at Soto Cano Air Base, August 19-23. The Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences exercise (CENTAM SMOKE) takes place twice a year and provides an opportunity for all firefighters to work as a team while learning from each other’s capabilities through strenuous partnership-building challenges.

U.S. Air Force firefighters assigned to Joint Task Force Bravo's 612th Air Base Squadron are training alongside 25 firefighters from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica during a multinational firefighting exercise at Soto Cano Air Base, August 19-23. The Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences exercise (CENTAM SMOKE) takes place twice a year and provides an opportunity for all firefighters to work as a team while learning from each other’s capabilities through strenuous partnership-building challenges.

Ike Ammo Onload

ATLANTIC OCEAN, VA, UNITED STATES
08.13.2019
Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Kotico
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) 

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 13, 2019) Sailors assigned to crash and salvage division aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) observe an MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the "Dusty Dogs" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, during an ordnance transfer with the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Ike is underway conducting an ammunition onload in preparation for future operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gabriel B. Kotico)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 13, 2019) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the "Dusty Dogs" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, transfers ordnance to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) from aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Ike is underway conducting an ammunition onload in preparation for future operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gabriel B. Kotico)

U.S. Army Reserve Firefighters rehearse life-saving procedures at CSTX 86-19-04

Spc. Mikail Greene, from Mobile, Alabama, stands in front of a fire training-tower at CSTX 86-19-04 at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin Aug. 1, 2019. The firefighters learned shutdown procedures on the UH-60 Black Hawk, especially with throttles, bottles and batteries, and extrication procedures for members of the flight crew (U.S. Army Reserve Photo by Sgt. Sean Harding)\

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES
08.18.2019
Story by Sgt. Sean Harding
304th Public Affairs Detachment 


FORT MCCOY, Wis. - Citizen-Soldiers and firefighters from the 683rd Engineer Detachment rehearsed life-saving techniques at Combat Support Training Exercise 86-19-04 this August at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.

At Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport, a Pascagoula, Mississippi-based detachment conducted firefighting and operation drills. They started by receiving an emergency call, followed by rehearsing search and rescue, property-saving measures and fire suppression.

“It can wind you,” said Spc. Mikail Greene, from Mobile, Alabama. “But it won't beat you up if you just got your heart into it.”

On Sunday, the detachment trained with flight medics with G Company, 7-158 General Support Aviation Battalion. The firefighters learned shutdown procedures on the UH-60 Black Hawk, especially with throttles, bottles and batteries, and extraction procedures for members of the flight crew.

As U.S. Army Reserve firefighters, accidents involving the UH-60 Black Hawk are one of the most common types of accidents that the 683rd could respond to.

"That would be the task of the firefighter," said Sgt. Hollingsworth.

The training the firefighters received with the flight medics increased their level of readiness.

"We're all prepared at anytime," said Sgt. Crew Chief Roger Hollingsworth. "This greatly enhances our level of preparation to respond to any kind of incident ... or a crash involving these aircraft."

The Army has less than 200 active duty firefighters. The vast majority of the Army's life and property-saving forces are found in the Army Reserve and National Guard.

"We cannot win a fight without our Reserves," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Catlett, the 683rd's senior observer/controller. "So we're here today trying to train up our Reserve brethren ... so they're ready to go when that call to serve their nation is sent."

The closeness of the brothers-in-arms became apparent after spending nearly three weeks at Fort McCoy.

"That's your second family," said Spc. Michael Andrews, who is also a civilian firefighter. "You become that close, you spend so much time with those people that they do become your family."


And some Soldiers have relished their time at CSTX.

"I thoroughly enjoy it, every time we come out here," Greene said. "Fort McCoy might not have the best weather, but they have the best training."


Soldiers assigned to the 683rd Engineer Detachment, from Pascagoula, Mississippi, review UH-60 Black Hawk safety information at CSTX 86-19-04 at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin Aug. 1, 2019. The firefighters learned shutdown procedures on the UH-60 Black Hawk, especially with throttles, bottles and batteries, and extrication procedures for members of the flight crew. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo by Sgt. Sean Harding).


A member of the 683rd Engineer Detachment reviews UH-60 Black Hawk safety information at CSTX 86-19-04 at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Aug. 1, 2019. The firefighters learned shutdown procedures on the UH-60 Black Hawk, especially with throttles, bottles and batteries, and extrication procedures for members of the flight crew. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo by Sgt. Sean Harding)

Fort McCoy firefighters serve Soldiers, community in multiple ways

Fort McCoy Fire Department firefighters refold a water hose during routine training at Station One on Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Aug. 12, 2019. The department operates two stations that serve the 60,000 acre Army installation and its surrounding cities through various capacities like emergency medical services, aircraft rescue and firefighting, search and rescue and more. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. Nicole Baker)

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES
08.13.2019
Story by Spc. Nicole Baker
Exercise News Day 

FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Almost a year after heavy rain caused flash flooding in several areas of Monroe County, the crew at Fort McCoy Fire Department reflects on their service to the community during routine equipment checks at FMFD Station One on Aug. 12, 2019.

The department operates two fire stations that serve the 60,000 acre Army installation and its surrounding cities through various firefighting and emergency capabilities.

Cole Stanek, a firefighter at Station One, said while many fire departments just respond to structure fire calls, their mission on Fort McCoy allows them to play a larger role.

“We'll respond to regular structural fires, any other fires like grass fires on the ranges and carbon monoxide alarms … we're also EMS (emergency medical services),” said Stanek.

The department's Station Two is on Fort McCoy's south post adjacent to the airfield. This allows them to respond to emergencies on the installation and the nearby Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport.

“We also have ... a big firefighting truck that's specifically designed for aircraft,” said Stanek. “So that's another thing that many fire departments don't have – the capabilities to do crash firefighting.”

The department has mutual aid agreements with surrounding cities within 20 miles, like Oakdale, Tomah and Sparta. The agreements allow emergency responders to assist each other outside of jurisdictional boundaries.

“Last year, during the flooding, we had our boats out and were rescuing people from houses that were flooded,” explained Stanek.

The department has a search-and-rescue team with divers that does mutual aid for drown victims other water-related emergencies.

Stanek, one of the few members of the crew who isn't a military veteran, was a police officer with the Fort McCoy Police Department for 16 years and a volunteer firefighter with Union Center Fire Department for four years before joining FMFD two years ago.

Stanek said this wasn't his original career path, but he wanted to make a difference and is rewarded by being part of the Fort McCoy team.

“Just getting to work with different people and getting to see the work that everybody puts in … it's humbling to see how much it really takes,” said Stanek.

Stanek, a native of Hillsboro, Wisconsin, said he's grateful to serve the community where he lives and grew up, while supporting the Soldiers on Fort McCoy.

“I obviously respect everything that Soldiers have done for us or do for us,” said Stanek. “That really comes along with working out here. You get to see all the hard work put in, and I definitely appreciate everything – just happy to work among them.”

Firefighter David Chizek starts and examines a vehicle as part of weekly inspections at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Aug. 12, 2019. Firefighters conduct equipment tests in order to maintain readiness. Chizek works as a firefighter while serving part-time in the U.S. Army Reserve. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Kevin Long)

Firefighter Brian Butzler uses the fire hose as part of a demonstration at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Aug. 12, 2019. Butzler is a former U.S. Army Reserve Soldier who now serves his community as a firefighter. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Kevin Long)

355th LRS Firetruck Maintainers

TUCSON, AZ, UNITED STATES
08.06.2019
Photo by Airman 1st Class Blake Gonzales
355th Wing 

Fire equipment prepares to respond to any potential incident on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug 6, 2019. The 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron fire truck maintainers are responsible for routine and preventative maintenance for 13 different fire trucks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Blake Gonzales)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Amber Goldberg, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron firetruck maintainer, performs routine maintenance at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 6, 2019. The maintainers perform routine maintenance and inspections to ensure the unit’s 13 firetrucks are operating properly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob T. Stephens)


U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Amber Goldberg, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron firetruck maintainer, consults with a fire chief and another maintainer in the 355th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 6, 2019. The fire department’s leadership works hand-in-hand with the maintainers to ensure successful responses to any scenario without doubts of the functionality of the firetrucks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob T. Stephens)


A P-23 crash truck is staged on the flight line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 6, 2019. Davis-Monthan’s large flying mission depends on the readiness of the Fire Department because without them flight line operations would cease. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob T. Stephens)


U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Amber Goldberg, 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron firetruck maintainer, replaces a bolt-on a firetruck at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Aug. 6, 2019. The LRS maintainers were specifically assigned to the fire department approximately one year ago to reduce turnaround time and ensure readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob T. Stephens)