Firefighters Brave, Extinguish Flames at Patriot Warrior Exercise

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez, 4th Combat Camera Squadron

FORT MCCOY, Wis., Dec. 8, 2017 — The call to serve, protect and cover your buddy’s back is a common theme in the military, and military firefighters fully embrace that concept.

Patriot Warrior is the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command's four-week exercise at Young Air Assault Strip and Volk Field Air National Guard Base.

Citizen-airmen come together to sharpen their skills, and the exercise provides an opportunity for the airmen to train with joint services and is designed to test their ability to provide combat-ready forces and operate in dynamic, contested environments.

‘Difficult, Uncomfortable Situations’

"They put us in difficult, uncomfortable situations, but that's when we learn the most," said Air Force Senior Airman Adam Coyle, a 445th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 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 Air Force firefighters, but with Army firefighters as well.

An Air Force firefighter participates in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive class during exercise Patriot Warrior at Young Air Assault Strip, Fort McCoy, Wis.

An Air Force firefighter participates in a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive class during exercise Patriot Warrior at Young Air Assault Strip, Fort McCoy, Wis., Aug. 11, 2017. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez

The 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 Black Hawk medevac helicopters.

Leaping Flames, Choking Smoke

By far, the most memorable event is the jet fuel fire-pit training. Flames leap and provide a massive pillar of smoke as the firefighters practice attack tactics, as they combat the aircraft fires.

"This hands-on training would not be possible back at home station, which doesn’t have those types of capabilities or funding,” said Air Force Senior Airman Alexandrina Lopez, a 445th CES firefighter.

During the exercise, the service members 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. "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," said Air Force Senior Airman Jacob Conway, a firefighter with the 445th CES.