Altus AFB hosts joint firefighter rescue training

by Senior Airman Dillon Davis
97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

8/1/2014 - ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla.  --  Altus AFB hosted a Department of Defense Rescue Technician Course July 14 - Aug. 1, 2014 at several locations around base.

The course consisted of various low and high-angle rescue techniques combined with confined-space rescue techniques to qualify the firefighters to perform rescues from elevated surfaces.

"The purpose of the course is to get the students qualified as a rescue technician," said U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. DeWayne Meats, DOD Rescue Technician Course instructor from the Marine Corps Detachment at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. "As a rescue technician, they can perform rescues from buildings, cliffs, caves, canyons and in confined spaces. These types of rescues don't happen very often, but when they do, having trained technicians can mean the difference between life and death."

A total of ten firefighters from four military installations to include Altus AFB, Okla., Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Fort Sill, Okla. attended and graduated the class.

Once the students have completed the course, they will be level 1 and 2 qualified on rappelling and confined space rescue, said Meats.

The DOD Rescue Technician Course based out of Goodfellow AFB, is hosted at various military installations. This year, Altus volunteered to host the training and invited service members from the surrounding areas to participate.

The firefighters who complete the course will have an expanded knowledge and hands-on experience to help during rescue operations, said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Boyd, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief.

The graduates' skills, training and knowledge will continuously provide improved safety for military members, their families and the public.