Cpl. Dmitriy Repnitskiy, an expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, manages water pressure during a live-fire training event on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma

 

MCAS FUTENMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN
02.04.2024
Photo by Cpl. Thomas Sheng 
Marine Corps Installations Pacific  

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dmitriy Repnitskiy, an expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, manages water pressure during a live-fire training event on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Feb. 4, 2024. This training is organized quarterly for Marine firefighters to respond to real life firefighting scenarios. MWSS-172 was accompanied by Crash Fire Rescue Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters Support Squadron and bulk fuel specialists. Repnitskiy is a native of Ukraine. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Thomas Sheng)

Firefighter Ahmed Dakhail, from Bahrain, uncouples a fire hose from a firetruck after completing simulated emergency training aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Feb. 04, 2024.

 

MANAMA, BAHRAIN
02.04.2024
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Macadam Weissman 
U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain  

240204-N-AC117-1013 Firefighter Ahmed Dakhail, from Bahrain, uncouples a fire hose from a firetruck after completing simulated emergency training aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, Feb. 04, 2024. NSA Bahrain enables the forward operations and responsiveness of U.S. and allied forces in support of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia's mission to provide services to the fleet, warfighter and family. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class MacAdam Kane Weissman)

USAG Humphreys Fire Department wins best in the region

Soldiers role playing as injured personnel are triaged during an airfield accident drill, Nov. 21 at Desiderio Army Airfield on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys. The drill was designed to evaluate first responder and emergency response capabilities.

The exercise simulated a hard landing of a fixed-wing RC-12 aircraft, injuring the three crew members.

“The exercise not only met regulatory requirements, but also demonstrated the airfield’s dedication to maintaining a high standard of safety and preparedness,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ryan Chambers, airfield executive officer.

The collaborative effort involved the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security airfield operations, aviation personnel, and military police, showcasing the garrison’s comprehensive commitment to aviation safety.

The realistic simulation included a swift response. Military police, fire and emergency services rescued and evacuated the victims to the hospital in less than 20 minutes from the start of the incident.

Chambers praised the seamless integration of emergency services and the valuable training experience gained.

U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys is the “Army’s Home in Korea” and is located along the western coast of South Korea within the seaport city of Pyeongtaek, approximately 40 miles south of Seoul. Camp

USAG Humphreys Fire Department wins best in the region

By Patrick BrayJanuary 30, 2024

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Installation Management Command Pacific has named the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys Fire and Emergency Services as the Best Medium Fire Department in the Pacific Region for 2023. The fire department is now entered into IMCOM’s competition for the Best Medium Sized Fire Department worldwide and will compete against the winners of other IMCOM regions.

“This solidifies USAG Humphreys Fire and Emergency Services as the best of the best,” said Marcus Shepard, fire chief. “It is a huge honor to the men and women who often put the needs of others before their own, serving this community day in and day out.”

The USAG Humphreys Fire and Emergency Services protects the largest overseas installation and the busiest U.S. Army airfield in the Pacific.

The department has four fire stations with 105 personnel. In 2023 the fire department responded to more than 1,140 emergencies.

The most notable incident last year was the F-16 pilot ejection and crash in May. An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing crashed in an agricultural area near Osan Air Base. The pilot safely ejected and was transported to the nearest medical facility.

USAG Humphreys Fire and Emergency Services responded and provided a mobile command post, crash-site security, and command structure with local national mutual-aid partners prior to the Air Force’s arrival from Osan.

Fire and Emergency Services reached more than 65,000 people in 2023 with fire prevention messages, Armed Forces Network radio spotlights, and participation in more than 32 community events – such as Fire Prevention Week. During the week of Oct. 8-14, the department visited each of the elementary schools on Camp Humphreys to promote fire safety as part of Fire Prevention Week.

“The firefighters here take a lot of pride in serving this community and always try their best whenever they are called upon,” said Shepard.

Collaborative efforts with Republic of Korea emergency responders make USAG Humphreys Fire and Emergency Services stand out amongst others in the region, said Shepard. The installation's fire department works with the Pyeongtaek Fire Department throughout the year through training sessions, ceremonies, station tours, and whenever assistance is requested to support emergency operations.

Iran Threatens to Respond to Any US Strikes as Biden Weighs How to React to a Base Attack in Jordan

The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the drone attack that also injured at least 40 troops at Tower 22.


http://dlvr.it/T27TyG

AFGE Wins Back Pay for 80 Firefighters Who Will Now Be Compensated for Travel Time

 

January 29, 2024
Categories: The Insider

AFGE Council 243 representing Navy southeast region locals has reached an agreement with the Navy in Florida to provide two years of back pay to more than 80 firefighters in the Pensacola area who had to travel between fire stations on duty time but were not reimbursed. From now on, the firefighters will also be reimbursed for travel mileage. 

This is a huge win for the firefighters as they had never been eligible for any travel reimbursement during duty time, unlike other Defense Department employees who are reimbursed for this type of travel under the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). 

The Navy has five fire stations in the area: Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, NAS Pensacola, NAS Pensacola Sherman Field, Corry Field, and Saufley Field. Every station is in a different geographical location except NAS Pensacola and Sherman Field. Whiting Field and Pensacola and Sherman Field are the farthest apart at about 80 miles roundtrip. 

Due to staffing shortages, the firefighters are assigned to go to a different station on a daily basis after they have already arrived at their official work center and their normal commute has already happened. They, however, had never been reimbursed for their travel between these stations.  

Between 2019 and 2021, the previous fire chief would transport personnel in government vehicles if they asked and provided a good reason not to use their personal vehicles. If they drove a motorcycle, for example, and couldn’t transport their bunker gear with them. If a government vehicle was available, a driver would drive them to and from their temporary station. But this was inconvenient – if there was an emergency at their home station, they couldn’t go right away as they would have to wait for a driver to come and pick them up. Management found it inconvenient as well as it took the government vehicles and drivers away from the stations. 

In 2021 management revoked the use of government vehicles to transport personnel, although they allowed the bunker gear to be transported in a government vehicle. They directed personnel to use their own vehicles to get between stations. 

AFGE Local 1960 subsequently filed a grievance on behalf of a firefighter who sought to be reimbursed for travel mileage between stations just like other DoD employees under JTR. Management denied the grievance saying JTR didn’t apply to them.  

A year later, the employee bought this up again and was suspended for 14 days. The local and council were able to bring it down to two days after going to arbitration. Later all firefighters were instructed not to submit a reimbursement request in the system or it could be viewed as falsifying documents which could lead to suspension or termination. 

The employee got Florida Senator Rick Scott involved, and NAV Pensacola agreed to give him back pay and reimburse him in the future. The agency did not offer this to anyone else.  

The council subsequently filed a grievance on behalf of Local 1960 to get everyone back pay. The issue was finally settled last month.  

“As a result of this settlement personnel are now allowed to open an account in the Defense Travel System (DTS) so they can file for reimbursement going forward,” said Michael Barrow, unit chair for the fire department Local 1960. 

Barrow said a lot of the thanks goes to Council 243 Executive Vice President Brandon Hartzog who stepped up and did the heavy lifting.  

“The BUE firefighters of Local 1960 are grateful for the hard work Council 243 committed to this fight. As evidenced by the long fight, Mr. Hartzog particularly was instrumental in getting it done,” Barrow added.