DOD Fire Academy

 

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, TX, UNITED STATES
12.10.2020
Photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves 
17th Training Wing Public Affairs  
 
Joint services collaborate in vertical ventilation training simulations at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. The DOD fire academy provided training to uniformed and civilian members of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and other organizations while building partnership capacities with allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Eugene Dotson, 312th Training Squadron fire protection instructor, coaches Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Geovannie Rios-Santos, 312th Training Squadron fire protection student, on weight distribution and proper ways to quickly remove the combustible roof during a vertical ventilation training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. Vertical ventilation was an offensive strategy that students utilized to create a 4x4 foot exhaust port in order to remove hot and toxic air from inside the burning building. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

Trying to sell me that UHP.

 

Goodfellow hosts AETC Deputy Commander

 

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. William Spangenthal, Air Education and Training Command deputy commander, rappels down a trainer wall at the Department of Defense Louis F. Garland Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 1, 2020, with the assistance of Tech. Sgt. James Mullenix, 312th Training Squadron instructor. Spangenthal participated in several demonstrations while visiting Goodfellow. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Seraiah Wolf)

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, TX, UNITED STATES

12.03.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Seraiah Wolf 

17th Training Wing Public Affairs  

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Maj. Gen. William Spangenthal, Air Education and Training Command deputy commander, visited here Dec. 1-2 to see how Airmen are modernizing today’s training to execute tomorrow’s demands while fighting through COVID-19.

The 312th Training Squadron escorted Spangenthal to the Department of Defense Louis F. Garland Fire Academy in a training firetruck. The academy is in charge of training the next generation of firefighters across all branches of the military for the DoD.

Upon arriving at the fire academy, Lt. Col. Michael McCourt, 312th TRS commander, gave Spangenthal a tour to demonstrate how the squadron is building the campus of the future, today.

“Most of our facilities that you see were built in the 90’s. We are in the process of renovating and building new trainers that are more advanced.” said McCourt. “We will have more trainers capable of accommodating multiple requirements for the various blocks of training that we conduct.”

Within the 312th TRS, there is also Special Instruments Training, a very small career field that performs a multitude of jobs in data analytics, always adapting to the needs of the operational Air Force.

“Our focus here is to give the students the closest thing to what they may experience in the operational career field,” said Master Sgt. Manuel Campo, 312th TRS instructor. “We have set up this lab with almost everything that a student would have access to at their first base.”

Throughout COVID-19 many members have had to adapt. Spangenthal was shown how Goodfellow is normalizing hybrid learning by attending a virtual class. He also heard about some of the challenges instructors faced while altering curriculum to make it virtual friendly, such as, ensuring all unclassified material is available to students online.

“Leadership understands that COVID has been a lot to deal with,” said Spangenthal. “Goodfellow adapted by adjusting courses, continuing training, and helping Airmen get out into the operational Air Force to do their jobs.”

During the visit, Spangenthal also visited front line warriors in the pandemic and saw them in action at the 17th Medical Group. The 17th MDG is focused on being prevention postured and response ready. The 17th MDG has been making sure the base continues to accomplish its mission of training and inspiring the future force by focusing on prevention and preparing for any outbreak.

Goodfellow trains more than just firefighters. Spangenthal witnessed how Goodfellow is also transforming Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance professionals through the continuum of learning. Goodfellow is changing the way students learn by adjusting courses to incorporate more virtual reality and hands on training.

Throughout all of the changes, updates, and overcoming challenges, leadership has not forgotten about Airmen’s quality of life. Spangenthal received a tour of a temporary dormitory that is a bridge to deliberate investment. He also toured dorms located at Angelo State University in San Angelo, which demonstrates the power of community partnerships. The first partnership agreement of its kind, this endeavor allowed housing for students in class on Goodfellow, freeing up rooms on base that need updating.

Leaders from ASU and Goodfellow explained various partnerships that are being explored between the college and base.

“Throughout COVID-19 Goodfellow has not just survived,” said Col. Andres Nazario, 17th TRW commander. “We as a team, as a base, and as a community have found ways to thrive during this trying time in the country.”

Regardless of the uniform we wear: 628th CES Fire Department

Chaz Cools, a firefighter from the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron, wields a chainsaw and poses for a picture, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Dec. 3, 2020. Swift and his team members at the 628th CES Fire Department support the mission by saving lives and protecting the people of Joint Base Charleston. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gage Rodriguez.)

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES

12.03.2020

Story by Airman Gage Rodriguez 

Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs  

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C.—

The 628th Civil Engineer Squadron supports many different missions here at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The Fire Department on base consists of 57 military and 52 civilian members that work together to ensure the people of Joint Base Charleston are safe and protected from any immediate danger.

Christopher Swift, a driver operator working with the 628th CES, is always ensuring the mission is complete.

“As a driver operator I’m making sure I understand how to operate the apparatus we have and also understand the proper placements at each emergency,” said Swift.

Despite the title of driver operator, Swift wears many hats and is somewhat of a hybrid firefighter which allows him to perform in many different roles on a day to day basis to support whatever the mission entails.

“Sometimes I’m the driver operator, sometimes I’m the crew chief and sometimes I perform the role of station chief,” said Swift.

Swift described that being flexible and adaptive to any situation allows his team and him to excel in any emergency that may present itself.

“We don’t know what our task is from day to day,” said Swift. “We always have to be prepared for the unexpected.”

To keep the members of the 628th CES Fire Department prepared for any emergency that may take place on Joint Base Charleston, it is imperative for them to always be training for any situation that could arise. For Swift, training is a key component in awareness and readiness.

“It’s very important to me as a civilian especially in a leadership role, to assist Airmen and NCOs in their forward progression training,” said Swift. “Airmen are looking up to us to show leadership and guidance from our experience to help make them better, and ultimately make the Air Force better.”

Swift takes pride in being a leader and constantly helping to develop young Airmen into being the best they can. Swift previously had four years of experience within the Coast Guard and can relate to those that don the uniform he doesn’t wear.

“I was involved with the military twelve years ago myself,” said Swift. “The biggest reason I want to continue to maintain a great relationship with military members is knowing that we’re all one, regardless of the uniform we wear.”

Mark Dodson, assistant chief of operations at the Joint Base Charleston Fire Department describes Christopher Swift as an incredibly valuable asset to the team.

“Christopher Swift comes into work every day with a non-stop tempo and work ethic, and he takes all 14 years of his firefighting experience that he’s had and applies it every single day,” said Dodson.

Dodson mentions that one of Swift’s favorite things to do is train those underneath him to be able to operate the way he does with the department. Like Swift, Dodson is also a civilian fire department member and mentions how critical it is for civilians to work amongst the military.

“The civilian member’s primary duty on our base is to train our military members to be able to deploy and conduct the fire department operations at a deployed location,” said Dodson.

“The civilians will maintain the Joint Base Fire Department readiness and protect the community so that it’s still here when the military members return.”

Edwards Fire and Emergency Services receives new airfield fire station

Chief Timothy Johnson, Edwards AFB FES Fire Chief, provides his comments during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Airfield Fire Station at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Dec. 8. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, UNITED STATES
12.08.2020
Story by Giancarlo Casem 
412th Test Wing Public Affairs  
 
The Edwards Fire and Emergency Services officially unveiled their airfield fire station during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Dec. 8.
The new fire station is a $44 million, 41,000 sq. ft. facility designed with meeting firefighters’ needs and requirements to provide optimum responsiveness in case of emergency. It will replace the old fire station which has been in service for more than 50 years.
“When I look at this building right here … I don't think of the brick and mortar, I think of the team of people who actually worked so long and so hard, so persistent, and yes, loving, that got us to where we are today,” said James Judkins, 412th Civil Engineer Group director.
The new station provides two separate dedicated bays for structural and aircraft response. Both bays can be accessed quickly from the centrally located living and administration areas within the facility. Additionally, brand new high-speed opening 4-fold bay doors provide rapid response to emergencies.
Another feature specifically designed for firefighters is that the roof, wall and triple-glazed assemblies were all validated to ensure they met target sound levels. This provides firefighters on rest schedules or training classes the necessary lower sound levels from within their facility.
“The new fire station brings a much improved working and living environment and allows for more efficient emergency response,” said Chief Timothy Johnson, Edwards AFB FES Fire Chief. “The new facility is a milestone that many others have been looking for, for years.”
The innovative design of the new fire station netted it an Honor Award for Facility Design with the 2020 Air Force Design Awards Program. I.E. Pacific, Inc., the design organization, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, the design agent, and the 412th CEG, the base engineering organization, were all recognized for their efforts.
Juror comments for the award include; “great modernization project to bring the facility up to date and make it safer for firefighters at Edwards AFB” and “interesting solution placing the primary structure between apparatus bays. Inclusion of an interior courtyard balanced design guide criteria with local climate impacts.”
Almost two years after base officials broke ground at the site of the new airfield fire station, the building is now set to provide world-class services, as per Edwards FES history. That history of service is something Col. Randel Gordon, 412th Test Wing Vice Commander, said he is thankful for.
“The reason I believe that we can take such risk when we fly to go do these test missions in support of national security is because we know we have a team of professionals that's going to be at ‘home plate’ for us if something goes wrong, and they're going to be there for us,” Gordon said. “I can’t tell you how it just brings the stress level down after you land and the fire chief comes up on the radio and says, ‘Hey, I’ve got you…’”