Personnel hold rare December prescribed burn at Fort McCoy

Post personnel oversee a prescribed burn Dec. 1, 2017, at an area along railroad tracks on South Post at Fort McCoy, Wis. Personnel with the Fort McCoy Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department; Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch; Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security; and the Colorado State University Center of Environmental Management of Military Lands under contract with the post help coordinate each prescribed burn at the post. Prescribed burns, generally, are done in the spring and fall seasons because weather conditions are most favorable at those times. Prescribed burns also improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities, and reduce wildfire potential. This was the first time in recent history where a prescribed burn was held in December. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES
12.07.2017
Story by Scott Sturkol     
Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office   

Fort McCoy held a rare prescribed burn in December as conditions were ideal to have it completed.

Personnel with the Fort McCoy Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department; Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch; Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security; and the Colorado State University Center of Environmental Management of Military Lands under contract with the post help coordinate each prescribed burn at the post.

Jim Kerkman, installation forester for the Directorate of Public Works (DPW) Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch, said completing and planning prescribed burns has to be a team approach.

"Prescribed burns, generally, are done in the spring and fall seasons because weather conditions are most favorable at those times," Kerkman said.

Charles Mentzel, Fort McCoy forestry technician who oversaw the Dec. 1 burn, said it was an ideal opportunity.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources defines prescribed burns as a way to "improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities and reduce wildfire potential."

"Prescribed burns help reduce wildfire potential in areas all around the post — especially in places where military training is taking place," Mentzel said.

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Spangdahlem hosts Munitions Support Squadron Fire Chiefs working group

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder | Tech. Sgt. Donald Cobb, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire department training NCO-in-charge, leads the discussion of best practices and issues that the geographically separated units face during a Strike Mission working group at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Nov. 30, 2017. During the week, participants of the working group talked about initial response force responsibilities, they also had an F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-17 Globe Master III familiarization walk through, and a confined space extraction class. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY
12.07.2017
Story by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs 

Fire chiefs from four geographically separated units around Europe assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base Germany came together to collaborate, discuss best practices, and future training needs during a Strike Mission Working Group from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, 2017.

“Spangdahlem Fire Department is responsible to give training to our GSUs annually,” said Tech. Sgt. Donald Cobb, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire department training NCO-in-charge. “Hosting this event gave us a good idea of what we can do to better support our GSUs.”

During the week participants of the working group talked about initial response force responsibilities, they also had an F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-17 Globe Master III familiarization walk through, and a confined space extraction class.

“Each fire department has a different understanding as well as different regulations that are imposed by their respective countries in addition to the regulations they must follow for the United States,” said Cobb. “This working group was important because they are all able to talk through the ways each of them comply and the hardships they face.”

It has been five years since the fire department leadership from 703rd Munitions Support Squadron, Volkel AB, Netherlands, 701st MUNSS, Kleine-Brogel, Belgium, 702nd MUNSS, Buchel, Germany, and 704th MUNSS, Ghedi, Italy were able to come together for this working group.

“Information and expert experience shared by other firefighters from other Munitions Support Squadrons is very valuable for everyone here,” said Tonny Janssen, 701st MUNSS fire chief. “We could compare and try to find the best solution from experienced individuals attending the working group.”

Putting Out the Flames at Patriot Warrior

U.S. Air Force firefighters with the 944th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz., 445th Civil Engineer Squadron, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and the 910th Civil Engineer Squadron, Youngstown, Ohio, respond to a C-130 Hercules aircraft crash training scenario, during exercise Patriot Warrior at Young Air Assault Strip, Fort McCoy, Wis., Aug. 11, 2017. Patriot Warrior is an Air Force Reserve training exercise designed to enhance wartime skills in a deployment-style environment and evaluate the ability of units to deploy mobility airlift and agile combat support capabilities in support of joint theater operations. ( U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez )

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES
12.06.2017
Story by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez
4th Combat Camera Squadron 

The call to serve, protect and cover your buddy’s back is a common theme in the military, but one group that fully embraces that motto are firefighters within the Armed Forces. When the heat comes on at Patriot Warrior 2017, firefighters are ready to put out the flames.

Patriot Warrior is the Air Force Reserve Command's four-week premier exercise at Fort McCoy, Young Air Assault Strip, and Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. Citizen Airmen from across the Air Force Reserve come together to sharpen their skills. It provides an opportunity for Airmen to train with joint services and is designed to test Reservists’ ability to provide combat-ready forces and operate in dynamic, contested environments.

"They put us in difficult, uncomfortable situations, but that's when we learn the most," said Senior Airman Adam Coyle, a 445th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter from Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Six different squadrons of firefighters from across the country participated in this year’s Patriot Warrior, with many of the firefighters slated to deploy overseas in the next year. Besides learning to operate in a joint environment, the airmen engaged in hands-on training, not just with other USAF firefighters, but U.S. Army as well.

In Patriot Warrior, teams battle controlled burns, attend land-navigation classes, and update their proficiency with firefighting tools while learning about the structure, systems, and challenges that occur in a variety of scenarios. They also become well acquainted with the emergency procedures of the C-130 Hercules aircraft and Army HH-60M MEDEVAC helicopter.

By far, the most memorable event is the jet fuel fire-pit training. Flames leap and contort into a massive pillar of smoke as the firefighters practice attack tactics, combating the aircraft fire with the air rescue and fire fighting vehicles using line operations. "This hands-on training would not be possible back at home station, which doesn’t have those types of capabilities or funding,” said Senior Airman Alexandrina Lopez, 445th CES firefighter.

During the exercise, they practiced automobile extrication where vehicles are set up to simulate accidents with trapped passengers. The scenario is developed to train them on practical skills as well as challenging their decision-making abilities as they apply various tactics to secure the vehicles and save the victims. Their skills are tested during a night-time low water crossing Humvee Extrication scenario where they apply their land navigation skills while using night vision goggles to rescue injured victims in a hostile environment.

The experience and skills developed in these training scenarios are invaluable. As one of the firefighters, Senior Airman Jacob Conway, 445th Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, remarked, "I joined firefighting because I think it’s the greatest job in the world. I love going to work, helping people, and doing something I always wanted to do since I was a kid."

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