Staff Sgt. Cedric Murphy, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services Stays Strongman Ready

Photo By Airman 1st Class Manuel Zamora | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cedric Murphy, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services Crew Chief, performs a cross carry at Kokkola, Finland, Sept. 27, 2020. Murphy explains this was the last event that consisted of a big toss over bar, and an airplane tire pull. (Courtesy photo)

GERMANY

12.18.2020

Story by Airman 1st Class Manuel Zamora 

86th Airlift Wing/Public Affairs  

Part of mission readiness in the Air Force is staying fit, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this Air Force firefighter, not only is he trying to stay fit, he’s trying to stay competitively strong.

Staff Sgt. Cedric Murphy, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services crew chief, has been doing Strongman competitions for four years and recently placed 10th in his weight class for the Strongman Championship League in Finland.

“For me it shows what kind of mindset you have,” Murphy said. “You have to go above and beyond given the certain situation.”

Murphy explained how his personal goals and work-life are on the same path.

“The luxury of Strongman training carries over, especially for firefighting, given the fact that you have to carry bodies or hoses,” Murphy said. “Those things can be difficult and taxing.”

A Strongman competition normally consists of five events that require unconventional styles of lifting. This may include boulders, known as atlas stones, that can weigh up to 350 pounds and the vehicle pulls for 100 feet.

“Not everybody has to be lifting 700 pounds or anything like that, but in daily life, to have that mobility and stamina is good,” Murphy said. “It can be anything from putting groceries up to moving boxes, or just moving in general.”

Murphy’s dedication shows, as he has purchased equipment similar to what is used in competition for personal use, whether he is at home or in the fire station.

Murphy hopes that doing these competitions may bring more exposure to the activity and spark enough interest to make it an official sport for the military. There are already people from other military branches interested and it’s not uncommon to see other service members participating.

“Hopefully one day hosting a legit Strongman competition on base will lead to people having more interest to go to the gym, lift more weights and utilize these fantastic facilities the military offers,” Murphy said.

Kadomatsu/Wreath Exchange on CFAS

 

SASEBO, NAGASAKI, JAPAN

12.18.2020

Photo by Seaman Jasmine Ikusebiala 

Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo  

SASEBO, Japan (Dec. 18, 2020) – Sailors assigned to Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo conduct morning colors onboard CFAS Dec. 18, 2020. Morning and evening colors onboard CFAS are conducted daily by active duty watchstanders and Japanese employees from the security and fire departments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jasmine Ikusebiala)

Class Alpha Fire DC Drill aboard McCain

 

PHILIPPINE SEA
12.12.2020
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Markus Castaneda 
Destroyer Squadron 15  
 
Seaman Wayne Reid, from Miami, climbs up a ladder well to combat a simulated fire during a damage control training team drill aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). McCain is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Markus Castaneda)

Lt. j.g. Sam Hooper, from Andrews, Texas, establishes communication with the central control station from a repair locker during a damage control training team drill aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). McCain is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Markus Castaneda)

Lt. j.g. Nathaniel Rennard, from Asheville, N.C., waves a ‘Class Alpha’ fire flag to simulate a fire in the boatswain’s locker during a damage control training team drill aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). McCain is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Markus Castaneda)

Nathan Harper, a Fire Protection Specialist with Anniston Army Depot, offers tips to keep your Christmas Tree safe from fire.

 ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, AL, UNITED STATES
12.16.2020
Video by Ben Williams 
Anniston Army Depot  

Nathan Harper, a Fire Protection Specialist with Anniston Army Depot, offers tips to keep your Christmas Tree safe from fire.

Joint service fire protection students of the 312th Training Squadron

U.S. Army Pvt. Arias Caballero and Air Force Airman 1st Class Jorge Rodriquez-Aponte, 312th Training Squadron fire protection students, extinguish the burning room together during their grade level interior fire training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. The students were assigned to three units which all had different roles to play during a structure fire. (U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

Photo By Senior Airman Abbey Rieves | Staff Sgt. Ryan Clark, 312th Training Squadron fire protection instructor, cranks the controller igniting flames for the students during the grade level interior fire training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. As part of Goodfellow’s joint mission, instructors and students at the DOD fire academy trained in coalition across the enterprise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves) 

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, TX, UNITED STATES

12.16.2020

Story by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves 

17th Training Wing Public Affairs  

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas--Joint service fire protection students of the 312th Training Squadron put their classroom knowledge to the test during their grade level interior fire training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy here, Dec. 10.

Joint service fire protection students of the 312th Training Squadron command a spraying water hose as they flex their classroom knowledge in the field during their grade level interior fire training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. The 312th TRS students participated in hands-on training and used the “buddy system,” to control unpredictable visibility challenges presented in their educational environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Phillip Crews, 312th Training Squadron fire protection instructor, addresses his class during a break in their grade level interior fire training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. Crews reiterated the importance of safety, administrating strong communication, and utilizing the buddy system while combating dangerous scenarios, much like the students will during their operational service and deployments. (U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

U.S. Army Pvt. Arias Caballero and Air Force Airman 1st Class Jorge Rodriquez-Aponte, 312th Training Squadron fire protection students, communicate strategy before opening the door to a burning room during their grade level interior fire training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. Students trained in the classroom how to approach a live fire and what angle to spray the water hose for different burning scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

Joint service fire protection students from the 312th Training Squadron orient themselves to the burning environment while under the supervision of their instructor during the grade level interior fire training exercise at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 10, 2020. The students were tested in a safe, yet realistic joint learning environment on how to suppress kitchen fires and other customizable scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)

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