MAFB firefighter named Air Force Firefighter of the Year

by Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

4/11/2014 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Staff Sgt. Michael Mullis, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection crew chief, was recently named the Air Force Firefighter of the Year.

"To be named the Air Force Firefighter of the Year is a complete honor," Mullis said. "It's an opportunity that we all as firefighters work toward. To me, it gives the feeling that all the hard work I have put into my Air Force and firefighting career has been well worth it.

"When I heard they were submitting my name to Air Force Global Strike Command, I was excited, but knew there were many firefighters out there just as deserving as myself," he continued. "After I was named AFGSC Firefighter of the Year, I was then told I was nominated for Air Force Firefighter of the Year. I could only hope that things would work out for the best - and they did. It also gave me a feeling of appreciation knowing that your leadership and peers have all noticed the efforts that you as an individual, and as a team member, have put forth to be where you are today."

Becoming a firefighter was a lifetime goal for Mullis.

"Growing up, I found myself in many situations where friends and family members were hurt or taken due to unfortunate events," Mullis said. "I know how this feels first hand and wish that no one ever has to experience the horror of that fate. I became a firefighter to try and help people experiencing these unfortunate events and because I believe life is something that many of us take for granted until we are faced with a situation in which we realize how fast it can be taken from us. I want to create the best outcome possible following these types of situations. There is no better feeling than saving a life, salvaging someone's irreplaceable belongings or rescuing someone from a catastrophic event."

The Ravenna, Ohio, native has accomplished a lot so far in his five-year career. He has been coined by the 341st Missile Wing commander and the 341st CES commander. He was named fire department NCO of the third quarter. He was named Malmstrom's 2013 Military Firefighter of the Year. And to top it all off, he completed his requirements for a Community College of the Air Force degree in Fire Science, earning 64 credit hours while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

In most cases, one may not expect to win Air Force-level awards by doing nothing or being average. Mullis has performed countless brave acts in his career.

One of the proudest moments in his firefighting career happened in December 2011. Mullis, and other members of the Malmstrom fire department, dispatched to respond to a report of an unresponsive individual, who did not have a pulse and was not breathing. When they arrived on scene, his crew and other firefighters and paramedics immediately initiated CPR and set up the Automated External Defibrillator. After multiple rounds of continuous CPR, shocks from the AED and assisting with advanced life support procedures, the patient had sustained a pulse and was able to maintain breathing. The patient was immediately transported to the emergency room and eventually made a full recovery.

As most people know, being a firefighter may not be an easy task.

"I became a firefighter knowing the inherent risks that come with the job," Mullis said. "We put our lives at risk to save others. With that said, we always keep safety in mind along with everything else. The materials we use now to build and furnish our homes are highly flammable, quickly burn at high temperatures, and the structural members are not as strong when exposed to high heat conditions. Knowing the dangers like these that firefighters may face each and every day encourages us to train, so we can try to prevent future mishaps.

"Being aware of our surroundings and performing continuous scene size-ups is a skill we teach to all of our firefighters," he continued. "Something I may not see, someone else may notice. We learn from our past experiences and the mistakes that we have made. We know things can go wrong, but we are trained in trying to minimize the risks to ourselves and others if possible."

Mullis doesn't accept this award without credit to many of his peers.

"When considering this award, my career path and the progress I have made throughout the years, it is definitely not something I can take credit for alone," Mullis said. "Each person I have encountered throughout my career has played a vital role in my success as an Air Force firefighter. Whether it is individuals within the fire department, military personnel or our civilian counterparts, each person offers something different. Whether it is a learning opportunity or a skill, I learn something new each and every day."